Issue: Affordability

Q What specific reforms, if any, would you propose in health care policy to address the cost of and access to health care?

Asked by

Q What policies will you advocate to address the increasingly unaffordable housing, transportation, and utility costs that are economically segregating our neighborhoods?

Asked by Friends of Austin Neighborhoods

Q Explain the role you believe the federal government should play in addressing the cost of and access to healthcare.

Asked by League of Women Voters Austin Area

Q What policies do you support to make Austin a more affordable place to live for all residents?

Asked by League of Women Voters Austin Area

Q Solutions to homelessness exist – they require scaling up social services and housing programs, including the pathways from shelter to housing. To date, Austin has not identified adequate funding to address this challenge. How would you work to identify the funding needed?

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce

Q Many low-income families and persons experiencing homelessness have debt to the utility companies, which are now barriers to their ability to securing housing. Would you support increasing debt forgiveness programs for 3-4 years to help more people access housing? (Y/N/Explain)

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce

Q Do you support maintaining affordable utility costs across Austin Energy and Austin Water that adheres strictly to the City’s affordability goals for Austin Energy, which require AustinEnergy rates to be in the bottom half of Texas ratepayers and minimizes increases to two percent per year for each rate class? (Y/N Explain)

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce

Q In a recent poll, residents of Austin cited rising property taxes as a major issue they face, iconic business are having to close their doors and longtime residents are moving out citing rising property taxes. Some have also cited homelessness as an impediment to business. How would you slow or stop the increase in City property taxes, encourage other taxing entities to do the same, and balance the requests for more funding coming from the City Departments and the public? One example of the request of more funding is to expand social service contracts to meet needs, including to provide more supportive housing programs. How do you balance less taxes and increased demand for social services? Please explain.

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce

Q Council adopted the Strategic Housing Blueprint last year, calling for 13,500 new units annually over 10 years. This gets us to break-even in terms of need. Would you support amending the City’s proposed Strategic Housing Plan to increase the number to at least 15,000 housing units per year for 10 years, keeping the breakout across income levels and including permanent supportive housing for those chronically experiencing homelessness? (Y/N; Explain)

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce

Q Affordability is discussed a lot in our community. How do you define affordability?

Asked by Austin Chamber of Commerce