DISTRICT 8 AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER paige ellis VOTED to Raise property taxes EVERY YEAR

October 13, 2022

The average District 8 homeowner’s property taxes have increased 54% from 2015 to 2020 under Paige Ellis.

Paige Ellis has not only done nothing to stop this unaffordable and cruel increase in property taxes on District 8 residents, but has encouraged it with reckless spending on unaccountable pet projects.

This year, city councilor even voted to almost double their own salaries.

Her opponent, Richard Smith, will work toward limiting the amount of property taxes to no more than the previous year, and will seek to actually reduce property taxes. Richard will push for an independent, comprehensive efficiency audit of city expenditures, including for Project Connect and Homelessness. Since public safety is City Council’s first duty, Richard will work toward fully budgeting for police, EMS, and firefighters before considering other expenditures.

Here’s what people are writing about Paige ElliS’s budget:

The Austin City Council officially adopted its $5 billion 2022-2023 budget on Thursday alongside a 40 percent pay raise for themselves and the ordering of a multi-hundred million dollar housing bond election.

The body also officially set on the November ballot half of the council districts, after a lawsuit failed to require all council members to face re-election after district lines were redrawn. Along with those elections and the mayoral election, voters will see a $350 million bond proposal on their ballots to increase housing subsidies in the city.

For next fiscal year, the budget includes a $300 million increase from last year and lays out a 3.5 percent property tax increase. It proposes a 4 percent wage increase for all civilian city employees along with a $1,500 bonus for those with a year or longer of employment with the city.

The council pay raise increases the mayor’s salary to $134,191 and the council members’ to $116,688. They also approved the elected officials’ use of a $900.12 annual cell phone and a $5,400.20 annual vehicle allowance, along with application of the city-wide incentive pay program.

In November, Paige Ellis will face the voters of District 8. We must vote her out.