Mayor Kirk Watson voiced support Thursday for a proposed grant program for home-based child care providers throughout the city, as one piece of a countywide effort to address one of the most persistent affordability issues in Austin. Speaking at a summit examining the causes and possible solution for the city’s affordability problem, Watson said child […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Charter Review Commission sends its recommendations to Council
The Charter Review Commission has wrapped up its evaluation of possible charter revisions relating to petition requirements, among other items, and has submitted its final report to City Council with nine recommendations. Council will ultimately decide which items will be placed on the November ballot. In its 2023 resolution creating the commission, one of Council’s […]
Posted inCity Hall
Funding gaps and future needs eyed in analysis of bond spending
Members of City Council have started to show some of their priorities for the city’s next bond package that would address needs for parkland and cultural centers, among other city departmental resources. Another concern expressed at last week’s Audit and Finance Committee meeting was the likelihood that the city will need to assess where it […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County voters approve bond propositions aimed at roads, parks
On election night, Travis County voters overwhelmingly approved a bond package that will bolster roads and parks. Proposition A includes $233,060,000 in road bonds that will pay for safety projects, acquiring land for right of way, road drainage, bike lanes, side walks, shared use paths and other projects. Proposition B includes $276,440,000 of bonds for […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County voters to consider bond package aimed at road, park improvements
Early voting in the Travis County bond election begins on Monday, Oct. 23, and runs through Nov. 3. Election day is Nov. 7. The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved adding the bond to the November election on Aug. 15. The package includes two propositions that direct more than $500 million to roads and parks. […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City IDs $65M in creative space needs for possible 2024 bond package
The city has identified $65 million in critical needs for cultural arts infrastructure projects that will be under consideration for a possible bond vote in 2024. A memo released last week spells out the progress being made on a handful of major creative space projects funded by the city. It also offers a glimpse at […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin passed a sweeping police oversight measure. Here’s what happens next.
Austin resoundingly approved an expansion of police oversight on Saturday. About 80 percent of voters in the city approved Proposition A, while the same percentage of voters shut down the opposing proposition, Prop B. Now comes the hard part. City leaders will have to fold Prop A’s expansion of the city’s Office of Police Oversight into a labor contract […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Election results: Voters overwhelmingly support civilian oversight of Austin police
Austin voters have decided the future of police oversight of the Austin Police Department. Proposition A, which would expand oversight, cruised to victory Saturday: 70 percent of voters supported the measure, according to unofficial voting numbers. Proposition B, which would curtail citizen oversight, was voted down by 80 percent of voters. The two propositions were […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City officials say no to bond elections before 2026
The city of Austin has promised voters it would build a wide variety of projects, ranging from roads to affordable housing to parks, libraries and health centers. City financial advisers told the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday that the total authorization for public improvement bonds is currently at $3.5 billion. But because […]
Posted inElections
Austin ISD’s $2.44 billion bond package passes with overwhelming support
Lee esta historia en español If results do not appear below, refresh the web page. Voters have approved Austin ISD’s $2.44 billion bond package, the largest in the district’s history. Five seats on the AISD Board of Trustees were also up for grabs. Four new members were elected to the board and one incumbent won […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Voters strongly back $350M proposal for affordable housing
Voters strongly approved the city’s latest bond proposal to create more affordable housing, giving the city another $350 million to direct toward housing acquisition, repair and rental programs. The vote totals from Travis County as well as portions of Hays and Williamson counties covered by the proposition had it winning by just over 70 percent, […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Real estate leaders put affordable housing bond under the lights
In summarizing the city’s many efforts and successes to preserve and create more affordable housing, Rosie Truelove offered a simple summary of what’s going on in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. Speaking at last week’s Urban Land Institute Austin breakfast panel that looked at the $350 million affordable housing proposal […]