Austin voters gave the OK to seven bond propositions totaling more than $925 million this election, but things aren’t looking good for two propositions fueled by citizen petitions – Propositions J and K – that could fail. Proposition A Results: After early voting numbers and a third of election day votes counted, 73 percent of […]
Bonds & Propositions
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Who funded the PACs that got two propositions on Austin’s ballot this November?
A Californian who attempted a 2016 presidential run. A reported real estate investor in Arizona. These are some of the people who have given to political action committees behind two local ballot initiatives – propositions J and K. Political action committees are not subject to the same campaign finance requirements as candidates. There are fewer restrictions […]
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Prop J initiative exposes rift among Austin environmentalists
Environmentalists in Austin worry about methane emissions from Texas oilfields, plastic pollution clogging up creeks and rivers or nuclear waste being shipped through the state. But one thing they rarely worry about is each other – at least until recently, when an initiative called Proposition J landed on the ballot. Prop J would require that […]
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Environmental group opposes propositions J, K
Austin Environmental Democrats on Friday voted to oppose two propositions placed on the November ballot by citizen petitions. Like a number of other groups, the environmentalists voted to oppose Proposition K, which seeks to have a comprehensive audit of all city departments and functions and is backed by the right-wing Texas Public Policy Foundation. However, […]
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Plenty of PACs for November bond election
District 2 Council Member Delia Garza wants to make sure that when Austin voters go to the polls to vote on the city’s $925 million bond package on Nov. 6, they understand how important it is to support Proposition E, which would provide funding for a new neighborhood and health care facility in Dove Springs. […]
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Don’t expect harmony from groups attached to $128M push for creative, culture centers
While the city’s cultural centers and the disparate arts and music communities will win or lose collectively in November when voters decide whether to approve $128 million in bond funding, it appears those groups will be working separately to campaign and educate voters over the next two months. That’s the indication from a recent board […]
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Travis County gets slow start to $185M bond program
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt isn’t ready to hit the panic button, but she is expressing concern about the amount of time it’s taking for the county to get going on the $185 million of projects that voters approved in last year’s bond election. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court finally voted to approve a program […]
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Council faces legal action over wording of two ballot initiatives
Supporters of two ballot initiatives are threatening legal action against the city of Austin over ballot language that they claim City Council crafted to mislead voters. Just after midnight on Friday, Council approved language for 11 separate propositions that voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject in November. One of those is a […]
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Arts, music supporters eye bond money to assist existing creative spaces
Leaders in Austin’s arts community appear to be in favor of using $12 million in proposed bond money to help existing creative businesses in purchasing their current spaces before they can be priced out or forced to move because of redevelopment. That was the focus of discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Austin Music Commission, […]
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Council moves forward one of the largest bonds in Austin history
City Council took a crucial first step late Thursday toward presenting voters with one of the largest bond package in the city’s history. Just before 11 p.m., Council endorsed a $925 million general obligation bond that will include major pots of money for housing, transportation, parks, stormwater infrastructure and cultural facilities. The vote only instructed […]
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Council gears up for bond debate
On Thursday, City Council members will try to put together a bond package that a majority on the dais agree to and that they believe a majority of Austin voters will support at the polls in November. Whatever package Council approves on Thursday will lay out the biggest features of the bond, notably the dollar […]
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Five Council members signal support for major housing bond
Mayor Steve Adler and four other members of City Council announced their support Thursday for putting a major housing bond on the ballot in November. Standing in front of scores of activists on the front steps of City Hall Thursday morning, Adler said that funds from previous housing bonds approved by voters in 2013 and […]