Because (and I’ve seen private research on this) it mostly doesn’t hang outside of some specific voter groups in specific places.
First, among homeowners, City taxes don’t move the needle compared to the other taxing entities, let alone the housing shortage in central Austin and our truly stupendous income inequality, particularly between college graduate+ private sector workers and our massive pool of college graduate+ public sector workers. It works a little for retired, house rich long term residents in places like Hyde Park, Bouldin Creek, near-east Austin and other neighborhoods where they have seen their tax bills skyrocket along with home’s value but live on a fixed income.
But more importantly, second, the affordability problem is most acute for renters who would like to buy a home close to where they work, or at least rent one, and can’t. They aren’t looking at the component cost structures, they are looking at the price tag.
The shame of it is that she’s the most politically gifted and skilled member of council since 90’s era Kirk Watson. It’s a terrible waste and a real tragedy for the city. She had it all.
Nonsense. It’s code for “let the market build more housing.” You don’t know what or who you are talking about. Stop listening to KLBJ-AM.