Readers had a lot to say following our story about the City Council considering budget cuts since Prop Q, a proposed tax increase, was defeated.
Ben B. wants to know: "Did Matt Mackowiak or others offer alternative cuts?"
Mackowiak, the former Travis County GOP chair who runs the Save Austin Now PAC, which organized the opposition to Prop Q, has said he's opposed to the City Council cutting roughly $7 million in planned spending on Austin Fire and EMS.
We texted Mackowiak Ben's question, and he told us the city should commission an efficiency audit; limit the budgets and spending of council member offices; cut the city's information technology department; stop spending money on light rail; and not increase homeless spending. He added the city "should not spend a penny on art at the airport."
Linda W. says cuts result in "harm, disruption, or danger to constituents."
"Why not cut council salaries, homeless mediation and housing ... environmental regulations and expenses ... (and) travel and conventions for city employees" among other things.
Robert S. writes he heard from different people that a reason for not supporting Prop Q "was that so many different programs were lumped together."
"A proposal to address the homeless should have been separate from transportation spending."
