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Texas

Austin City Council set to vote on $1.18 million guaranteed basic income plan

If approved, 85 Austin families will receive $1,000 a month of taxpayer funds for a year

Paul Best By Paul Best Fox News
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The Austin City Council is set to vote Thursday on a $1.18 million guaranteed basic income pilot program that will give 85 families $1,000 of taxpayer funds a month for a year. 

Basic income is a government-funded policy that provides regular cash payments to citizens with no strings attached. 

If approved, Austin's local government will partner with the California non-profit UpTogether to administer the program and analyze the results once the year-long trial run is complete. 

"The evaluation will include analysis of survey and interview data, as well as additional case studies with participants seeking to make recommendations and measure impact in key areas such as economic mobility, social capital, and housing stability," the city council's agenda item says. 

  • Austin, Texas
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    The cityscape of Austin, Texas.  (iStock)

  • Texas capitol in Austin, Texas
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    The U.S. and Texas flags wave outside the Texas Capitol on July 13, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

While the Austin City Council is expected to pass the measure, not everyone supports it. 

Mackenzie Kelly, the representative of District 6 and lone Republican on the council, told Fox News Digital she's voting against the program. 

"I seriously question the legality of this item under Section III, Article 52 of the Texas Constitution, which makes the gift of public funds illegal. There are no strings attached to these monthly payments and no public benefit. I am strongly against this item and will fight it."

CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES EMBRACE UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

Several cities across the country, including New Orleans, Oakland, Gainesville, Chicago, and Los Angeles have introduced similar programs in recent years. 

Changing Colors Along Colorado River Aerial Shot Flying over Zilker Park in Austin , Texas with the trail of lights display ready for Christmas. December brings changing of seasons and the dropping of leaves in Central Texas

An aerial shot over Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.  (iStock)

California became the first state to pass a basic income plan last summer when it introduced a $35 million program to provide pregnant women and young adults who recent left foster care monthly cash payments. 

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Basic income has seen wide support on the left from lawmakers like Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, and think tanks like the Roosevelt Institute, but some libertarian and right-leaning economists have also expressed support for the idea, such as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman in the form of a negative income tax to get people off of welfare programs. 

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.