Texas Governor Floats Plan To Freeze Tax Hikes In Cities That Defund Police

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a plan that would freeze any city from raising property taxes on residents if police departments are defunded.

Eric Gay/AP

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Eric Gay/AP

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The proposal comes as cities across the country are moving forward with plans to overhaul police departments and shifting funds and duties to other government agencies. These measures have been called for at national protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality.

The governor’s proposal still needs to be approved by Texas state lawmakers, who likely will consider the measure during the upcoming legislative session, slated to begin in January, Austin member station KUT reports.

Speaking after the press conference, Austin City Council member Greg Casar said he was unfazed by the governor’s plan.

«We’re going to keep on doing what we are doing,» Casar told KUT. «We’re going to keep on supporting the movement for Black lives and keep on doing what’s right for civil rights even if the governor just wants to rely on the traditional Austin-bashing to try and distract people.»

The Austin City Council approved a budget that would slash $150 million in proposed cuts to the Austin Police Department last week, according to The Austin American-Statesman, but only about $20 million would be immediately cut from the department. The rest would move into transitional funds that would gradually move away from the police department.

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The Texas showdown over police funding is similar to ones playing out in cities like Minneapolis, New York and Seattle.

Carmen Best, Seattle’s first Black police chief, abruptly resigned last week, hours after the city council voted to strip resources, including 100 jobs at the police department.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last month defended New York City Council’s move to shift roughly $1 billion from the city’s police department, which is the largest in the nation.

During a Minneapolis City Council budget markup last month, lawmakers approved several amendments aimed at slashing police funding and staffing.

The move included diverting $1.1 million from the Minneapolis police department to the health department to go toward funding «civilian violence interrupters who will mediate violent conflicts and help prevent further trouble,» Minnesota Public Radio reports.

• defunding police
• police violence