The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors today released the following on City of Austin ballot propositions:

"The Greater Austin Chamber Board of Directors has long supported the Austin community priorities of affordability and transportation. The Chamber Board of Directors supports Propositions A and G on the Nov. 2018 City of Austin ballot to prioritize $250 million in affordable housing and $160 million in transportation. Elements of other propositions have merit, though the Chamber is opposed to a package that raises the property tax rate. Currently, the city debt service allows for $425 million in additional debt without raising the property tax rate.

The Austin Chamber supports a ‘no’ vote for Proposition J. In a fast-moving economy like Austin’s, we can’t afford to wait three years for a new land use code to take effect. The Chamber notes that by recommending a ‘no’ vote, our objection is to the three-year wait, not necessarily to the citizen vote. In this proposition, both are tied together in such a way we cannot split them and our vote has to be ‘no.’"

Board Chairman Phil Wilson provided the following statement, expounding on the board's decisions:

“As always, the Chamber looks at city policies through a lens of affordability both to local businesses and their employee’s ability to thrive in Austin. Ask any Austinite and they will tell you that our community needs more affordable housing units and increased funding to combat traffic congestion and so we are fully supportive of those two propositions. If voters support all the bond propositions, that will result in a tax increase. We must take steps toward a more affordable Austin without raising property taxes.

"Our city council must have the necessary tools to overhaul our land-use code in a way that best suits our community. Community input is paramount to this, but a three-year waiting period is not."

About the Austin Chamber
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce focuses on how the Austin Region works. We serve as the voice of business for 2,800 organizations representing a combined workforce of about 330,000 employees throughout Central Texas. Our mission is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for members.

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