More than two-thirds of Austin residents say they’re willing to support a tax increase to fund the city’s next bond package, with housing, transportation, and parks emerging as the most widely shared priorities among the 2,002 people who responded to a recent public survey. Those findings were presented at Monday’s meeting of the Bond Election […]
Bond Election Advisory Task Force
Posted inBonds & Propositions
With cap of $687M, bond task force to weigh $4.4B in city needs
Over this summer, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force will begin to evaluate a narrowed list of capital needs for the City of Austin’s 2026 bond election, following the delivery of a $4.4 billion needs assessment from city staff later this month. The task force, which has met regularly since October 2024, will begin reviewing […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
New libraries, parks, health centers among facilities eyed for 2026 bond proposal
Up to four new libraries, more neighborhood health centers, and a host of new park properties and recreation centers are among the facilities being considered for the city’s next bond election that will likely take place in 2026. Representatives from three city departments presented their bond project goals and plans this week to the city’s […]
Posted inTransportation
Bond task force weighs early decisions on transportation needs for 2026 package
The Bond Election Advisory Task Force got its first look Monday at how the Transportation and Public Works Department is approaching the selection and prioritization of projects for next year’s expected bond package. Task force members had plenty of questions about how those choices will be made. Among the concerns, members asked staff how transportation […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Bond task force votes to roll climate-related projects into 2026 election
The city’s 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force has decided against pursuing a climate-focused bond election in 2025, opting instead to incorporate climate-related projects into a broader 2026 general obligation bond election. The decision followed discussion about funding availability for bond elections in consecutive years, the public engagement process for a 2025 election and the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Task force delays decision on possible 2025 environmental bond package
The Bond Election Advisory Task Force has postponed making a recommendation on a potential 2025 bond election focused on environmental projects, citing the need for additional preparation and clarity from city staff. The decision to table the discussion until February came during the task force’s Monday meeting, where members expressed uncertainty about the scope of […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City management cautions against 2025 bond election
A 2025 bond election would reduce available funding for a comprehensive bond election in 2026, according to a memo from Assistant City Manager Robert Goode sent to City Council through City Manager T.C. Broadnax. The memo offers reasons that Council should not have a bond election this year, citing the history of bond consideration and […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Task force: Bond decisions up to Council
The city’s 2018 Bond Election Advisory Task Force sent a recommendation to City Council for a November bond ballot of $851 million – more than $200 million above the amount recommended by city staff, and one that is estimated to require a 2-cent property tax increase. Tom Nuckols, chair of the task force, told Council […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Bond session puts focus on neglect of East Austin infrastructure
Affordable housing, upkeep of parks and cultural centers, and assorted infrastructure projects were some of the more popular civic needs advocated for by residents Wednesday night in the third of a series of town hall forums on the bond package Austin voters will vote on in November. The session, held at the Millennium Youth Entertainment […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
How big of a bond will Austin voters support?
This November, Austin voters going to the polls to vote for mayor, governor and a variety of other city, state and federal positions will likely be asked to approve a bond package worth hundreds of millions of dollars that will go toward infrastructure, drainage improvements, facilities maintenance, new parks and low-income housing. It remains far […]