Austin City Council 2026 Ballot Propositions

Proposition A

Against

Parks and Pools Bonds

FINANCIAL NOTE

Bonds are loans that governments, like the City of Austin, repay over time with tax dollars. Approving bond debt means taxpayers are committing to principal and interest for years.

Without authorizing new bonds, Austin currently owes $2,378,150,000 in principal and $963,306,343 in estimated interest on all outstanding debt obligations.

Proposition A — Parks and Recreation Bonds

THIS IS A TAX INCREASE to issue $260 Million in bonds for parks, recreation, aquatic facilities, and open space.

How much this debt will cost taxpayers: $453,357,500

principal $260,000,000 + estimated interest $193,357,500

BALLOT LANGUAGE

Should the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas be authorized to issue and sell one or more series of general obligation bonds of the City in the aggregate principal amount of not more than $260,000,000 for the purpose of designing, acquiring, constructing, expanding, renovating, rehabilitating, replacing, improving, upgrading, enhancing, and equipping City park, recreation (including sports, athletics, and aquatics), and open space improvements and additions, and acquiring lands and rights-of-way necessary thereto, with priority given to (i) building improvements at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center, Doris Miller Auditorium, and Mayfield Park; (ii) infrastructure improvements at the Williamson Creek Trail, Evergreen Cemetery, Onion Creek all abilities playground, Brentwood Neighborhood Park, Riata Neighborhood Park, Springwoods Park, St. Edward's Greenbelt Trail & Park, Zilker Metro Park, Circle C Metro Park, Mt. Bonnell Park, and citywide park electrification infrastructure; (iii) parkland improvements at Jamestown Neighborhood Park, Bolm District Park, Walter E. Long Metro Park, Lantana Neighborhood Park, Citywide Community Gardens, Old Lampasas Pocket Park, Cooper Neighborhood Park, Wooldridge Square, Onion Creek Metro Park, Guitar Land Park, Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park (Phase II), and Commons Ford Park; (iv) aquatic improvements at Garrison Municipal Pool, Big Stacy Neighborhood Pool, Walnut Creek Municipal Pool, and Civitan Neighborhood Pool; and (v) funding for parkland acquisition, with priority given to infill parks in park-deficient areas, greenbelts and greenways for increased trail connectivity, and destination parks, such as land along the Colorado River and land for a new recreation center in District 6 with the bonds to mature, bear interest, and be issued and sold as permitted by law, and will the City Council be authorized to levy and pledge, and cause to be assessed and collected, annual ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the City sufficient, within the limits provided by law, to pay the annual interest and provide a sinking fund to pay the bonds at maturity?

WHY YOU MIGHT LIKE IT

This bond will fund many projects:

Building improvements at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center, Doris Miller Auditorium, and Mayfield Park.

Infrastructure improvements at the Williamson Creek Trail, Evergreen Cemetery, Onion Creek all abilities playground, Brentwood Neighborhood Park, Riata Neighborhood Park, Springwoods Park, St. Edward's Greenbelt Trail & Park, Zilker Metro Park, Circle C Metro Park, Mt. Bonnell Park, and citywide park electrification infrastructure.

Parkland improvements at Jamestown Neighborhood Park, Bolm District Park, Walter E. Long Metro Park, Lantana Neighborhood Park, Citywide Community Gardens, Old Lampasas Pocket Park, Cooper Neighborhood Park, Wooldridge Square, Onion Creek Metro Park, Guitar Land Park, Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park (Phase II), and Commons Ford Park.

Aquatic improvements at Garrison Municipal Pool, Big Stacy Neighborhood Pool, Walnut Creek Municipal Pool, and Civitan Neighborhood Pool.

Funding for parkland acquisition, with priority given to infill parks in park-deficient areas, greenbelts and greenways for increased trail connectivity, and destination parks, such as land along the Colorado River and land for a new recreation center in District 6.

VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE

This $260 Million bond will cost taxpayers approximates $453 Million after interest.

The City currently owes $2.38 Billion in principal on it's outstanding debt obligations. With interest, that totals $3.34 Billion in debt obligations.

The City Council violated its own bond decision tree framework in placing this bond package on the ballot. Financial staff recommended waiting until 2028 when previous bonds reach 90% completion, but the council ignored that advice to call this election anyway.

The city has cancelled 61 bond approved projects due to cost overruns and feasibility problems. The responsible vote is to hold the city accountable to its own discipline and let it finish what it promised before asking for another $260 million.

The city has proven it will fund critical projects through certificates of obligation if this bond fails. These projects will appear as individual items on City Council agendas which will ensure greater transparency and specificity.

Sources:

City Ordinance No 20260806-002 contains City bond details and can be downloaded from the August 6, 2026, meeting agenda: https://www.austintexas.gov/council/2026/20260806-reg#002
Austin City Council, 20260806-002, Agenda Backup: Exhibit B “Voter Information Document” https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=478421
Austin Bond Dashboard https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e2136cd2f9bb449293a5487765fdaa19
City Resolution No 20260226-055 contains the City's bond decision-tree framework and can be downloaded from the February 26, 2026, meeting agenda: https://www.austintexas.gov/council/2026/20260226-reg#055
Austin City Council amended the budget on August 12, 2026, to fund projects that had been cut from the bond election https://www.austintexas.gov/council/2026/20260812-reg#007