The Bond Election Advisory Task Force will have to decide by very early 2025 if the city should move forward with a possible climate change and sustainability bond package next fall, in a process and timeline that would see no community input or engagement in the proposal that would be put before voters. At a […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County voters supported a tax rate increase to expand access to affordable child care. What happens now?
Last week, approximately 60 percent of Travis County voters approved Proposition A – a property tax increase that will expand access to affordable child care and after-school/summer programs for lower-income families. The tax increase ($0.025 per $100 valuation for a total ad valorem tax rate of 0.34 percent) will also support the development of child […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Voters pass Austin Independent School District Proposition A
Austin Independent School District Proposition A, a tax rate election, passed with 58 percent of the vote on Nov. 5, resulting in a property tax increase for Austin residents that will invest $41 million in AISD. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted in August to place Proposition A on the November ballot after a […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County passes plan to invest in affordable child care
By the time early votes rolled in on election night, Travis County’s sweeping investment in child care services had already garnered 60 percent of the vote, holding on to that margin through the night. Proposition A will generate $75 million in its first year, to go toward making child care affordable in the most expensive […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns
Voters are deciding whether to approve a tax rate increase that would generate new revenue for Central Texas’ largest public school district as it grapples with a $119 million budget deficit. Austin Independent School District officials have said that shortfall is largely due to the fact that state funding for public schools is not keeping up […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City looks to reduce lead time on approved bond projects ahead of expected 2026 proposals
City staffers hope to dramatically shorten the early lag in approved bond projects that typically add a year to construction and acquisition schedules, which can also increase costs or reduce the scope for proposed projects. Last week’s meeting of the Bond Oversight Commission included an update on progress for Parks and Recreation Department projects included […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Ballot measure asks taxpayers to help fund access to affordable child care
In May of this year, Travis County committed to a broad investment in child care with the Creating Access for Resilient Families, or CARES initiative. To fund that care sustainably, the county will ask voters on Nov. 5 to approve a 2.5-cent property tax increase, which would generate an estimated $75.8 million and raise the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council could OK task force to design bond package focused on climate change
Next week, City Council will consider forming a task force to design the city’s next bond package expected to go before voters by fall 2026. Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool has led on the resolution that calls for the creation of a 22-member body that would begin meeting in October, with Mayor Kirk Watson and […]
Posted inAISD
Austin ISD is asking voters to approve a new tax rate to help fund pay raises, reduce deficit
The Austin ISD school board is asking voters to approve a higher property tax rate in November that would increase the district’s revenue by tens of millions of dollars. That money would be used to give more than 60 percent of employees a raise and reduce the district’s budget deficit to $78 million. Austin ISD […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council formally authorizes November election with 13 proposed charter amendments
City of Austin voters will face a loaded ballot in November, with 13 charter amendments to be decided as well as a full slate of political races to elect a mayor and five City Council members. City Council last week ordered a Nov. 5 general election, which will include a special election for the proposed […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
County commissioners approve tax rate election to raise $75M for child care
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to place a tax rate increase on the November ballot that could generate $75 million per year to improve child care services throughout the area. If approved, the money would be used to increase access to child care and after-school and summer programming activities, which have been found […]
Posted inEnvironment
Mayor Kirk Watson slows timing for climate bond election
City Council members have been taking sides on the City Council Message Board over competing timelines for a climate bond election, and on Wednesday the proposal for a longer lead-up was left standing. The back-and-forth on the message board – the city platform Council members use to communicate with one another without violating open meetings […]