AUSTIN, Texas — With an “ultra-conservative” majority at the helm in the state Capitol, Austin’s “liberal” city council members are bracing for a potential clash of ideologies as the 89th Texas Legislative session begins.
Council members are vigilantly monitoring bills that could have a direct impact on Austin. “There are all kinds of bills out there that will negatively impact our local government’s ability to meet the needs of its residents,” cautions newly elected District 9 Council Member Krista Laine.
Laine is particularly concerned about proposals related to school finance, vouchers, and property taxes. “It significantly impacts the property tax that we pay in the city,” she explains, emphasizing that decisions made at the state level will directly affect the financial burden on Austinites, and potentially take away funds from public schools.
Beyond the financial implications, Laine also worries about the potential for state overreach and erosion of Austin’s autonomy. “There certainly is an attempt in many of these bills to revoke local control,” she observes.
“There are two bills that are looking to abolish the city of Austin and create a district of Austin,” she said as an example of these extreme measures. “I feel strongly that we as City Council were democratically elected and it is important that we’re able to implement the vision of our city and provide effective city services that also reflect our values,” Laine asserts.
Though, political experts like Brian Smith of St. Edward’s University believes bills like those are more symbolic than realistic, “The reality of that happening is very little. The state doesn’t want to take on an additional jurisdiction, and it would set a dangerous precedent for cities.”
Smith added, “It’s a great way to, on paper, stick it to the city of Austin, but in reality it’s not going to happen.”
District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes expressed apprehension about proposed legislation that could hinder the city’s ability to provide for its residents.
“What I’m seeing are state bills [that] have been filed that focus on stripping away our authority and that prevent city leaders from providing protections and high-quality services to our residents,” she stated.
Fuentes emphasized that Austin residents prioritize “having smooth streets to ride on, having access to housing, having jobs that pay a living wage,” and worries that state interference will obstruct progress in these areas.
She urges state lawmakers to use the state’s “billions of dollars in surplus” to “fully invest in our children and the future of this state” by “adequately and sufficiently fund[ing] our public schools.”
District 4 Council Member Chito Vela brings a historical perspective to the discussion, reminding residents that state-level intervention in Austin’s affairs is not a new phenomenon. “The Texas Legislature has been very involved in local Austin affairsand has decided to block us,” he recalls, citing the state’s overturning of Austin’s camping ban in 2021 and interference in police funding as examples.
He emphasized the need for Austin to “defend Austin’s values” which include protecting the environment, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and advocating for policies like Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization.
He also points to “Project Connect,” Austin’s voter-approved light rail plan, as a potential target for legislative interference.
The transit plan aims to create a comprehensive public transit system with expanded rail lines and bus routes to address the city’s growing population and traffic challenges. However, it has faced backlash due to its escalating costs, potential displacement of residents, and concerns over transparency in decision-making and long-term feasibility.
“Austin voters overwhelmingly passed light rail, and the legislature may want to get in the way of that,” he warned, arguing that the project will ultimately benefit many state employees and University of Texas students.
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Smith acknowledged the long-standing tension between Austin’s progressive values and the more conservative leanings of the state legislature.
“Austin values tend to be more progressive than the values statewide, and for that reason we’ve seen conflict between what the city of Austin and Travis County want and what the inhabitants of the capital in that city and county want,” he explained.
Despite the potential for conflict, both Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Laine remain hopeful about finding ways to work with state lawmakers.
“I for one, I really prefer to work, not by butting heads, but rather by bringing people together, finding our common goals, and then moving forward with action on them,” said Laine.
“I anticipate we’ll be successful [working with the Texas Legislature] again,” said Watson in a previous interview with CBS Austin, pointing to his own experience as a former state senator representing Austin.
Council members agree that the stakes are high for Austin, with state-level decisions poised to impact the daily lives of residents in significant ways.
“[The legislature] impacts the day-to-day lives of the city of Austin from everything into how much we pay in taxes to what’s taught in our schools, to how much people get paid,” explained Smith.