What’s in a ratio? A lot, if voters are being asked to mandate one. Proposition A, one of two local measures on the Nov. 2 ballot, asks Austinites if they want to set a minimum staffing ratio for the Austin Police Department: 2 police officers per 1,000 residents. Save Austin Now, the group behind Prop A, […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Texans will decide on eight constitutional amendments this election. Here’s what they mean.
Lee esta historia en español. This Nov. 2 election, Texans have the chance to vote on eight amendments to the state constitution. What would each amendment actually do? Read our voter guide below to find out. Early voting began Monday and ends Oct. 29. State of Texas Proposition 1 What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Attorney raises questions about wording of Prop B
No sooner had we explained the ins and outs of Proposition B on the Nov. 2 ballot when attorney Bill Aleshire came along and attempted to show that the ballot language is misleading and may not give the city the authority it needs to swap properties. In a lengthy email to the Austin Monitor, Aleshire […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop B would allow the city of Austin to ‘swap’ one piece of land for another. Here are three things to know.
The city of Austin wants a piece of land to make into a park. And it’s trying to put a sweet deal on the table to make that happen. That’s the crux of Proposition B. But man, is it confusing. Some background: Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department has its Central Maintenance Complex on a 9-acre […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
EMS union joins firefighters in opposing Prop A
The political action committee for the Austin EMS employees union has voted to join the Austin Firefighters Association PAC and AFSCME Local 1624, the civilian employees union, in opposing Proposition A on the November ballot. Save Austin Now, the PAC that gathered petitions to put the measure on the ballot, has estimated its yearly cost […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop B: City to vote on East Austin parkland swap
Austin voters will have a chance in the Nov. 2 election to authorize the city to trade nine acres of city-owned parkland for at least 48 acres of waterfront property that will complete the existing John Treviño Park. The nine-acre parcel, while legally dedicated parkland, has never been used as anything but the site of […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Firefighters considering whether to oppose Prop A
Austin firefighters are considering whether to oppose Proposition A, a proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot that would require the city of Austin to spend between $54 million and $119 million more on police officers each year, according to Austin’s Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo. Opponents note that the likely result of such new […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
‘No Way on Prop A’ campaign opposes police staffing initiative
A political action committee focused on defeating a November ballot proposal that would significantly increase the size of the Austin Police Department held its first formal campaign event Thursday. More than 80 community groups and more than three dozen local elected officials have joined the No Way on Prop A coalition, which was formed in […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
How many cops do we want and at what cost?
Reporters and promoters of Proposition A have been using two officers per 1,000 Austin residents to describe the police staffing required if the proposition wins voter approval on Nov. 2. But that number may be insufficient, according to calculations done by Austin Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo. Van Eenoo looked at four key provisions […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council OKs new ballot language for Prop A
As directed by the Texas Supreme Court, City Council on Thursday approved new language for Proposition A, the ordinance that would increase Austin’s police force to two officers per every 1,000 residents. Although the political action committee Save Austin Now claimed victory in the court ruling, the city also emerged victorious because the state’s highest […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City Council denounces Prop A, approves ballot language revealing its cost
An upcoming proposition that would mandate police staffing could cost the city almost $600 million over the next five years. City Council is trying to drive that reality home with newly adopted ballot language. If approved by voters on Nov. 2, Proposition A, which is the result of a petition drive by Save Austin Now, […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Petition-backed measure to mandate police staffing will go to Austin voters
A ballot measure that would set a mandatory minimum for police staffing in Austin is on its way to voters. The city clerk on Tuesday certified petition signatures from the group Save Austin Now, paving the way for a November referendum. If passed, the ballot measure would require the city to employ two officers per […]