2026 City of Austin Propositions 

Cities borrow money for large projects and repay it over time, usually with interest. Austin uses different borrowing mechanisms: bonds, certificates of obligation, and revenue bonds.

• Bonds: Voters approve general obligation (GO) bonds at an election. The City repays them using its taxing power, including property taxes levied on taxable property in Austin. 

• Certificates of Obligation: City Council generally issues certificates of obligation (COs) without a bond election. COs are not limited to emergencies. Like GO bonds, COs may be backed by the City’s taxing power and repaid with property taxes. Depending on the specific CO, repayment may also involve pledged revenues. 

• Revenue Bonds: These are repaid from a specific pledged revenue source, such as airport-system revenue, hotel occupancy taxes, or utility fees. The people or businesses paying those fees or taxes contribute to the revenue stream used for repayment.

These forms of borrowing create obligations the City must repay, so voters should consider the project’s purpose, cost, repayment source, and effect on future budgets.

Cities use different legislative tools to set their governing framework, adopt local laws, and express official decisions or positions.

• Charter: Austin’s foundational governing document. It establishes the basic structure and powers of city government, and city ordinances must be consistent with it. Amendments may be proposed by the City Council or by the voters through a ballot initiative. The charter itself can be amended only through a vote of the people. 

• Ordinance: A local law adopted by City Council under its authority. Ordinances can establish or change rules that apply within the city, but they cannot amend the charter and must comply with it and state law. 

• Resolution: A formal action or statement by City Council, often used to express the Council’s position, set policy direction, or approve certain actions. Unlike an ordinance, a resolution generally does not create a citywide law enforceable through penalties.

When considering a ballot measure, voters can ask whether the proposed change belongs in the city’s foundational charter, whether it would be better addressed through an ordinance or resolution, and how clearly it defines the City’s responsibilities. A charter amendment is harder to change than an ordinance or resolution, so its scope and long-term effects matter.