The endorsement acknowledges Kathie Tovo’s opposition to city subsidies for Formula 1 and her enthusiastic support for fair geographic representation (single-member districts) combined with a process that would take the redistricting process out of the hands of the Austin City Council and put it in the hands of a non-partisan redistricting commission.

ChangeAustin.org was co-founded by Brian Rodgers who fought the Domain Mall subsidies and most recently broke the story on the Austin City Council’s “round-robin” open meetings violations. Rodgers said, “It is clear to us that Council Member Shade supports subsidies for Formula 1 and can’t see past the cockeyed economic projections put forth by State Comptroller Susan Combs and the promoters and billionaire owners of Formula 1.  Spending $290 million of taxpayer money on a sports franchise in the midst of school closures and social service cuts is a despicable act of runaway government.  In addition, Shade does not support geographic representation for city council elections, even though all council members live inside the central city.  ChangeAustin members living outside the central city feel politically marooned and have shown enthusiastic support for single member districts while Councilwoman Shade has been pushing a process to keep just another version of the at-large system in place.”

In contrast, Kathie Tovo has run commercials alerting Austinites to the proposal to help divert tax dollars to Formula 1.  She also enthusiastically supports single-member districts and believes changing our current system will ensure more geographic representation on the City Council and produce more economic diversity among candidates. She believes Council races have become very costly and time-consuming, which discourages many excellent candidates from pursuing public office. She has also said she will work with the City and community stakeholders to hold a series of public hearings across the community to allow the public to decide what Austin’s new system should look like. This includes a non-partisan redistricting process to take the politics out of drawing district lines.

ChangeAustin.org has a flier they’re asking voters to circulate in their communities and on the internet which can be found here.  Live phone calls are now underway to reach thousands of Austin voters who opposed the Domain subsidies in 2008.

Linda Curtis, co-founder of ChangeAustin.org, said, “We are calling on ChangeAustin.org’s supporters to help us break through the cynicism that Austinites feel about their officials — a big reason why they’re not voting.  It will take neighbors talking to neighbors to help get folks to the polls.  We need your help to reach 12,000 of our supporters!”

Early voting starts today, June 6th and runs through Tuesday, June 14th.  Election day is Saturday, June 18th.  Polls are open 7 to 7.  Early and election day voting polls and information for Travis County and Williamson County are here.

Brian Rodgers presents his research into the negative impacts of rate hikes for water treatment in Central Texas.

If you feel your home has been over-valued by your county Appraisal District, make sure you get your protest forms in the mail, preferably today or tomorrow by certified mail return receipt requested.  If not, walk it in on Tuesday, and get a stamped copy.  If not, mail it registered on Tuesday.  If not, just mail it on Tuesday and take your chances!

You can include with that the “Request for Information” form here for Travis County (for Bastrop scroll to the bottom of this message), which will help you in preparation for your informal and formal hearings.

Then, please consider reviewing our slides shows on the left hand menu of our front page at ChangeAustin.org.

We now have two mock hearings scheduled below:  (Note:  if you want to do your own, we will help you!)

Property Tax Appraisal Protest Mock Hearing
Bastrop – location to be announced
Thursday, June 3rd, 6:30 pm
.

Property Tax Appraisal Protest Mock Hearing
Carver Library, 1161 Angelina, Austin
Thursday, June 17th, 6:30 pm

Last year, we told you about the big developers who are getting huge property tax under-valuations for buildings like the Austonian.  Did ya hear about the one where Austin millionaires are getting huge property tax exemptions on their “historic” homes by the City of Austin?!

This workshop is for the many middle and low-income Austinites who will receive OVER valuations from the Travis County Appraisal District this year.  Reserve your seat now!  And send us some dough to advertise it!

Download the printable flyer and spread the word: FlierMay1TaxWorkshop-1

How to Protest Your Property Tax Appraisal

Saturday, May 1st, 10:00 – 12:00 pm* (map here)
Huston-Tillotson University
Dickey Lawless Auditorium
7th & Chicon

Note:  The date of this event has changed because your won’t see your appraisal notice until about April 25.  If you think you have been appraised for more than your home is worth, this workshop is for YOU!

If you missed this workshop and wish to attend another, see the dates of more workshops (below), or send a message to us at Contact@ChangeAustin.org or call us!

View the slides from this workshop.

Click here to donate!

Appraisal Protest
in Travis County, Austin, TX

Organized by Change Austin

East

Oak Springs Library
3101 Oak Springs Dr.
Tues. May 11
6:30-8:00 PM
Capacity: 25
Sponsored by: Govalle Neighborhood Association

N. Central

Yarborough Library
2200 Hancock
Sat. May 15
1:30-3:30 PM
Capacity: 50

Pflugerville

Pflugerville Justice Center
1611 Pfennig Lane
Wed. May 19
6:30-9:30 PM
Capacity: 75
Sponsored by: Highland Park North HOA

East Austin

Carver Library
1161 Angelina
Thurs. May 20
6:30-8:30 PM
Capacity: 80
Sponsored by: ChangeAustin.org

East Austin

Terrazas Library
1105 East César Chávez St.
Sat. May 22
10:00 AM-12:30
Capacity: 35
Sponsored by: East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Planning Team

If you belong to an organization that would like to host a Tax Appraisal Protest Workshop, Change Austin will arrange for a workshop especially for your group, please contact us.

It took us a few days to think about our next steps.

Thanks to SouthernShift.com, you can watch this wonderful 5″ video on “Travis County’s Dirty Little Secret” on the residential property tax inequity that is driving Austinites out of their homes.

We love you KXAN!  Scroll down this page to watch the 2.5 minute piece they did that helped us reach thousands.

The tax protests with the Appraisal District have been so numerous, that TCAD is settling quickly with folks by mail.  Did TCAD bite off more than it could chew with homeowners?  You betcha!

The Council is planning to raise your tax rate and raise utility fees and more.  (Click here for details on rate hikes.)

Let’s Keep the Heat on Officials:  Do This before October 1st!

1.  Call Mayor Lee Leffingwell at (512) 974-2250.  Urge the Mayor to lead the Council in stopping a tax rate increase in a down economy.  Ask him to cut the budget, not gouge homeowners.  Urge him to take action to get the Appraisal District to straighten out the mess at TCAD.  (Click here for the details on what’s wrong — very wrong — at TCAD if you don’t know!)  Note:  One of the cuts the City should do is the $850 million Water Treatment Plant #4. You should also send an email to the rest of the City Council on the same subject – click here.

2.  Call County Judge Biscoe at (512) 854-9555 and urge the County not to raise taxes on homeowners and to clean up the mess at TCAD.  You can email the remaining Commissioners here.

3.  Become a dues paying member of ChangeAustin.org. Why?  So you can vote on who we will support and oppose in upcoming elections.  It’s only $20, to join right here.

You can also attend hearings of the City Council on the Proposed Rate Hikes on September 14 and/or 24th.  The County’s hearings are the 22nd and 25th.  Details are on our calendar on the right side of this page (put your cursor over the date you want.)

Keep up the heat while the real temperature is coming down, thank god!

We’ll be back in touch.  Meanwhile, why don’t share this message with your neighbors.  And, as always, feel free to contact us anytime.  Just go to our contact page.