The Austin parks system is looking to win big from a major bond that voters will likely be asked to approve in 2018. A citizen task force is currently in the process of drafting a general obligation bond to fund affordable housing projects, stormwater infrastructure, libraries and a variety of other upgrades to municipal facilities. […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County bond proposal continues to evolve
A roiling public hearing at Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday muddied the waters on an already complex bond package, part of which voters could decide on this November. More than two dozen speakers signed up to air their thoughts on the $234.5 million recommendation delivered to the court by the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Talk starts for 2018 city bond election
City Council got a first look during its work session on Tuesday at an initial list of staff bond proposals that could go to voters in November of 2018. That list included a total of $640 million in bonds, with reinvestment in facilities and city assets pegged at $240 million and transportation infrastructure at $190 […]
Posted inTravis County
TravCo bond talk takes explosive turn
Travis County is quietly but quickly approaching a major deadline in its runup to a potential 2017 bond referendum and if Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting was any indication, members of both the court and a citizens advisory council are deeply divided on the list of potential projects. Staff members along with three members of the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Mobility bond rolls to big victory
Opting to go big, Austin voters on Tuesday night overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, Mayor Steve Adler’s $720 million transportation bond package. The massive grab-bag of mobility infrastructure spending is the city’s largest-ever bond proposal to survive an election. Its victory is also a significant boost for Adler, whose self-declared Year of Mobility limped into Election […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Vote in the Republican primary? Here’s what’s for you in the mayor’s transportation bond
In East Austin, a case of poorly delivered mail has led to a political strategy revelation, of sorts. It involves Mayor Steve Adler’s $720 million transportation bond and one-half of a local political action committee that attempted to recall City Council Member Ann Kitchen earlier this year – a recipe for greatness. “I tend to […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Mobility bond limps out of the gate toward November
Mayor Steve Adler’s gambit to fast-track a $720 million transportation bond proposal onto the November ballot succeeded on Thursday despite some last-minute flak from several City Council members. The final drafts of both the ordinance ordering the election and the resolution outlining Council’s intent passed on a 7-1-3 vote. Council Member Ora Houston stood alone […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council tweaks mobility bond, dashes light rail hopes
Mayor Steve Adler’s $720 million transportation bond proposal is one vote away from heading to the November ballot after City Council gave it preliminary but unanimous support on Thursday night. The consensus support came after a marathon public hearing followed by extended horse-trading on the dais that resulted in notable modifications to the proposal’s sidewalk […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Courts, Development, Travis County
County pitches courthouse plan to Downtown group
Travis County officials presented plans for a proposed $291.6 million Civil and Family Courthouse to Austin’s Downtown Commission last week in an early bid to shore up city support before taking the plan to voters ahead of November’s bond election. If approved, it could mean the average county taxpayer could see an extra $41 on […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Elections, Local Politics, Public Safety
Travis County sets bond election for November
On Tuesday, Travis County Commissioners chose November over May to go to the voters with a bond election to fund construction of the planned Civil and Family Courthouse project. Plans for the facility call for a 14-story, 511,000-square-foot building with 28 courtrooms and a 500-space underground parking facility. Commissioners have not yet settled on a […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Development, Local Politics, Travis County
Commissioners ponder best date for bond election
Travis County Commissioners began a series of discussions Tuesday to determine the best schedule to fund and build the proposed new $294 million Civil and Family Courthouse building. The main decision will be whether to go to Travis County voters with a bond election in May or November. The new courthouse, which has been in […]
Posted inAustin, Bonds & Propositions, Courts, Development, Elections, Environment, Local Politics, Public Safety, Resources
2014: An Austin Monitor review
This past year was a dynamic one in Austin, and though the future promises to be just as interesting, at the close of 2014 we invite you to take a trip back over the past 12 months. Though a lot went on in the city and this list is far from comprehensive, from our ever-particular […]