Money for city parks, facilities dwindling

James Snow, director of Capital Delivery Services for the city, on Wednesday gave the City Council Audit and Finance Committee a detailed view of how money has been spent from bonds approved by voters in 2006, 2012 and 2018, with an emphasis on parks, libraries, museums and cultural facilities.

The city is more dependent on bond money for parks than in the past because the Texas Legislature recently passed a law preventing the city from collecting park development funds from developers of commercial, multifamily and hotel-motel developments. The law also sharply decreased the amount of parkland the city can require.

Even though the city is seeing few dollars in its coffers for buying parkland, Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo has warned Council that the city would not be in a financial position to offer more bonds until 2026. Council Member Alison Alter, who chairs the committee, has expressed particular concern about where the city would find the money for more parkland acquisition.

Snow told committee members that the city has spent all of the $84.7 million received through the sale of the 2006 bonds. Of the $77.7 million in bonds from the 2012 election, the city has just $3.2 million left, he said.

The 2018 bond election included funds for libraries, museums and cultural facilities, as well as parks. Of the $66.5 million approved by voters for libraries and cultural centers, $45.7 million remains, Snow said. Of the $149 million for parks and recreation facilities, $58.2 million remains.

Among the key projects approved from 2006 bonds, Snow highlighted the city of Austin/YMCA Community Recreation Center in North Austin, the Bartholomew Pool and the expansion of the Northwest Recreation Center.

Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, a member of the committee, told her colleagues that she wants to help her District 2 constituents to have a similar YMCA in Southeast Austin.

Among the projects approved in 2012, those that have been completed include the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center, Waterloo Park and phase one of the implementation of the Holly-Festival Beach plan. Snow said key projects that remain to be completed include the replacement of the Dougherty Arts Center, the Zilker barn replacement and the controversial Barton Springs bathhouse rehabilitation.

The 2018 parks bond had two propositions, for a total of $215.5 million and an unspent balance of $139.6 million. The work, which is expected to be completed in 2027, includes renewing aging facilities at the Mexican American Cultural Center, the Asian American Resource Center and the Carver Museum, he said. In addition, the city received funds for parkland acquisition, aquatics and building renovations.

The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.