On Thursday, the Austin City Council is expected to begin setting the ball in motion that may lead voters to the ballot box this November to decide whether or not to allow the borrowing of $816-million.
In 2016, voters approved $$720-million in bonds solely for moblity improvements. Now, the city wants more than that for a host of issues including affordable housing, infrastructure, parks, cultural centers, and more. As the council continues its discussion on this potential bond package, affordable housing remains a major part of the overall plan.
Earlier this year, the city manager made a recommendation that, if the package were to be sent to voters this fall, that $161-million should be set aside for low-income housing. However, that’s not nearly enough, according to council members Greg Casar, Sabino “Pio” Renteria, and Delia Garza, the three council members who represent districts with the highest concentration of low-income residents. According to those three council members, $300-million would be what is needed to fund the number of low-income units required to meet the demands of the city.
That money would not only be used for the average resident, but also for housing homeless people, too. And Casar, Garza, and Renteria also say some of it would be put toward reversing the ongoing gentrification in East Austin.
