The Austin City Council on Thursday approved ballot language for Proposition A for a second time. The measure, which was spearheaded by local PAC Save Austin Now’s petition efforts, asks voters to require the city to increase staffing levels at the Austin Police Department to two officers per 1000 residents. It also calls for an increase in police training as well as more cadet classes.
Back in August, the city council approved the initial ballot language, which was vastly different from the caption submitted by Save Austin Now. The differing language led to a lawsuit on August 20 against the city. The Texas Supreme Court this week ruled the city overstepped its authority when it rewrote the caption, and ordered the city to add the ballot language as it was written by Save Austin Now. The one provision the city was allowed to include in the language was the potential cost for the increases, which officials have estimated could be as high as $598-million.
Both sides have declared themselves victorious to some degree.
“This is a big win for every Austin citizen,” said Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek. “City leaders have been playing political games with ballot language for many years, ignoring the City Charter and undermining the rights of petition signers who only wish to petition their government. Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Greg Casar rewrote our ordinance in poll-tested language intended to intentionally and negatively bias voters against our true aims. The Texas Supreme Court has fully and finally rebuked this action. Instead, now our petition language will be inserted before the city’s cost estimate. This sets an important precedent for the future in our city.”
Mayor Steve Adler took to Twitter to express his satisfaction with the ruling.
“City wins on most critical issue on disputed ballot language. The Texas Supreme Court held today that the $271.5 million to $598.8 million cost of Prop A must be included in November ballot language,” Adler said.
Austin voters will decide on Proposition A on November 2.
