AUSTIN, Texas — A controversial ballot measure to enforce police staffing numbers in Austin is setting off a funding fight. 

What You Need To Know

  • Prop A would require at least two officers per 1,000 people, additional training and cadet courses and recruiting and retention programs

  • A report from Austin’s chief financial officer estimates the cost would be between $271.5 and $598.8 million

  • Those in opposition say this proposal will take money away from critical city programs. Supporters say it will make Austin safer

 

Recently, hundreds of people gathered in protest of Prop A at a press conference in downtown Austin. Those in opposition say this proposal will take money away from critical city programs. Supporters say it will make Austin safer. 

Scott Strickland is against Prop A. The musician has been playing the Austin scene for about eight years and is part of a large group of people fighting against Prop A. 

The ballot measure would require at least two officers per 1,000 people, additional training and cadet courses and recruiting and retention programs. A report from Austin’s chief financial officer estimates the cost would be between $271.5 and $598.8 million.  

“I can stand up for police officers, but I cannot support what is happening here,” Strickland said at a press conference.  

After Austin city leaders reallocated police funding in 2020, the governor passed a law making “defunding police” illegal. Now the 2021-2022 police budget is more than $442 million, the highest it’s ever been. City leaders say they would have to dip into other programs like EMS, fire, parks and the arts, which affects musicians like Strickland.   

“When the money runs out, the first thing to go is the arts. That’s the first thing that goes and everything else basically slides downhill,” he said.  

Save Austin Now Cofounder Matt Mackowiak says the city should be able to fund police and all other programs.  

“We didn’t have to cut city parks and public libraries two years ago when we had the number of police officers we want now,” he said.  

Save Austin Now is the organization behind Prop A. Mackowiak says this proposition is needed to address rising crime rates. Austin Police Department’s online crime search database shows there have been 56 homicides in Austin so far in 2021, compared to 45 in 2020 and 32 in 2019.  

“We have been faced with the most urgent and intense police staffing crisis in the history of our city,” Mackowiak said. “The consequence of that is Austin has never been less safe than it is right now.” 

This spike in homicides isn’t isolated to Austin. Cities across the country are seeing a spike in homicides, but many crime experts attribute this to the pandemic. While some cities with more police have less crime, some major cities with a high police officer ratio have some of the worst crime rates. So, criminal analysis has yet to find a clear connection between staffing and crime.  

Chas Moore with Austin Justice Coalition says more officers doesn’t equal safer streets. Instead of throwing money at police, he says we need to be looking for other solutions to solving crime.  

“Let’s find out the core reasons why this crime is happening,” Moore said. “Is it because these people are going through some mental health crisis? Is it because they are going through some trauma? Is it because they need jobs?” 

There has been a nationwide call for police reform sparked by deaths of BIPOC at the hands of police officers. Moore says this proposition is a slap in the face for Black and brown community members who have been asking for change.  

“Let me make this very clear: Yes, this is a social issue. This is a racial issue as well,” Moore said at the Prop A protest.  

Strickland says a safer community for him is one that protects its working class. 

“Artists right now are facing the toughest time that we’ve had, probably in 50-60 years, at least,” he said.  

So far in 2021, there have been 304 deaths in Texas related to gun violence. Eleven were in Austin, 16 in San Antonio, 37 in Dallas and 11 in Fort Worth. Texas’ homicide rate has fluctuated over the years, but FBI data shows the early and late '90s had the highest homicide rates. Data for 2020 and 2021 has yet to be released.  

The police officer ratio has also fluctuated. Since 1990, the lowest ratio was 1.9 in 2012 when the homicide rate was 4.4. The highest police ratio was 2.3 in 1999 when the homicide rate was 6.1  

Spectrum News 1 requested crime data from APD. We are still waiting for those numbers.