Updated: 12:20 a.m.: Austin voters have defeated a ballot measure that sought to restructure how the city spends its Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, and would have forced a public vote on a proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center. The vote count just after midnight on Election Night showed a clear loss for the Proposition […]
Elections
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County opts to ‘Energize the Expo,’ but it could be years away
Updated: 10:48 p.m.: Travis County voters have decided to energize the expo. More specifically, residents voted in favor of County Proposition A, which authorizes the county to levy up to a 2 percent tax on hotel guests to fund a renovation of the aging Travis County Exposition Center on Decker Lane. Unofficial results posted at […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Voters overwhelmingly reject Proposition A
Updated: 10:21 p.m: Austin voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected city Proposition A. With the final tally complete, more than 64 percent of those voting cast ballots against the proposition, which began as a reaction to the city’s decision to lease McKalla Place for a 20,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium. Mayor Steve Adler, who worked against […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin and Travis County voters will decide the future of hotel tax revenue: Here’s what that means
Expansion of the Austin Convention Center and the Travis County Expo Center could be on the line with two local ballot propositions this November. At the center of those two propositions is tax revenue from hotel stays – and how it’s spent locally. Both propositions are born out of Austin City Council’s decision to expand […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Elections
Two political action committees fight city Prop A
While any enthusiasm there might have been for the city ballot measure known as Proposition A has apparently dwindled, Anthony Precourt and his company are taking no chances. Austin TeamCo LLC, owner of Austin FC, gave the Austin United Political Action Committee $200,000 in the month ending Oct. 25 to campaign against the proposition, which […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Volunteer group calls for more than transit for 2020 ballot with ‘Wheel Deal’
A small group of community activists unveiled an all-volunteer effort Monday that they claim will help free Austin residents from car dependency and its associated costs while fighting climate change. The $4.377 billion plan, named the Wheel Deal, is an ambitious transportation platform that could help launch the city toward its goal, per the Austin […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Expo center supporters hope voters don’t confuse the two different Prop A’s
Ballot propositions can often be confusing – especially when there are multiple propositions with the same name. This is exactly what concerns those campaigning for Travis County Proposition A. The measure they support would authorize the county to levy a 2 percent Hotel Occupancy Tax to fund a reconstruction of the Travis County Exposition Center, […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Travis County considers nonpartisan redistricting
In contrast to most elected officials around the country, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court say they don’t want to be in charge of picking their voters. At their Aug. 20 meeting, the commissioners discussed setting up a nonpartisan redistricting commission similar to the city’s. The commission would be tasked with redrawing the four […]
Posted inElections
Austin City Council finalizes ballot language for convention center vote
In November Austin voters will decide the fate of the convention center’s expansion, along with a possible reshuffling of how the city spends money from hotel stays. Ballot language for the public referendum was OK’d by the Austin City Council this afternoon, after a state appeals court ordered the city to rewrite language it found […]
Posted inElections
Travis County asks voters to approve future hotel tax for expo center
Travis County isn’t giving up on getting a taste of the hotel tax. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court voted to put a measure on the November ballot that, if approved, would authorize the county to levy a 2 percent tax on hotel stays to fund the redevelopment of the Travis County Exposition Center. Even if […]
Posted inElections
Democrat Howard touts cash for Precinct 3 run
Although he hasn’t made an official announcement, a number of Democrats have made it clear that they plan to run for Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty’s seat. Daugherty said Tuesday he would announce his plans by mid-August, possibly clearing the way for one or two Republicans to run for the seat as well. […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Group pushes Garza to run for county attorney
Council Member Greg Casar and community activists Martha Cotera and Brian McGiverin are leading an effort to encourage Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza to run for Travis County attorney – and to raise campaign funds for her before she officially announces her candidacy. David Escamilla, the current county attorney, has announced he will not seek […]