South Central Austin Edition | October 2025

Election

BY BEN THOMPSON

Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised by groups for and against Austin’s tax rate increase ballot measure, Proposition Q. Approval of a higher city tax rate would bring in almost $110 million for homelessness response, public health and safety, and other uses. Its rejection would force ocials to trim Austin’s budget based on a lower tax rate. Political entities campaigning around the tax rate election include Love Austin and Austinites for Equity, raising more than $130,000 in support by early fall. Restore Leadership ATX and Save Austin Now, which led the successful 2021 campaign to restore Austin’s public camping ban, raised more than $110,000 in opposition. TRE campaigns ramp up

Zooming in

Fundraising in focus From July though late September, political groups raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars for and against Austin's tax rate election.

Mayor Kirk Watson and council members Vanessa Fuentes and Chito Vela contributed a combined $26,000 to Love Austin. The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and a public employee union also each donated $25,000, and a local EMS workers’ political group and nonprot Foundation Communities each pledged $25,000. Other homelessness and housing entities added thousands of dollars. Hundreds of people sent $10- $10,000 to Save Austin Now. Restore Leadership’s largest donation was $25,000 from an LLC linked to Horizon Bank. Donations of $1,000- $10,000 came from other entities and ve West Austin residents. Final preelection nancial reports are due Oct. 27, after press time.

Donations

Spending

Cash on hand

Austinites for Equity (supports Proposition Q)

$30,000

$307.48

$82,447.08

Love Austin (supports Proposition Q)

$102,870.30

$58,837.08

$41,972.92

$52,522.42 Restore Leadership ATX (opposes Proposition Q) $49,000 $2,549.29 $63,506.76 Save Austin Now (opposes Proposition Q) $10,309.13 $12,863.19

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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