Updated 4 p.m. Nov. 4
Both of Austin's 2026 bond propositions are headed for approval, based on early voting and initial Election Day results. Proposition A, the $260 million parks bond, and Proposition B, the $35 million libraries bond, both earned around 60% support citywide.
They were broadly favored in Travis County, which includes most of Austin, and more narrowly supported by margins of several hundreds of votes in Williamson County. In Hays County, home to a small number of Austin voters, the parks and library bonds were opposed by 41- and 10-vote margins, respectively.
The approval of a new round of city debt, expected to add more than $40 to the typical homeowner's tax bill by the early 2030s, comes a year after a citywide tax rate increase was voted down. Ted Siff, treasurer for the pro-bond Parks, Pools, Trails & Books campaign, said the outcome represented residents' belief in the future of the city's public facilities.
"It’s an important victory, statement, that Austinites feel like a prudent and deliberate council put forward important bonds for departments that had done a good job on their previous allocation of bonds, which was 8 years ago. And they deserve more money to make more parks and more libraries," he said.
Mayor Kirk Watson said that, while voters are concerned about affordability and government responsibility, they also want to see local improvements completed.
"The lesson we can and should take from the voters is that we can be an ambitious city and a disciplined city. In fact, we need to be both," he said in a statement.
Posted 10:25 p.m. Nov. 3
Two bond propositions for nearly $300 million in public parks and library projects are headed toward voter approval, based on early results released after polls closed in the Nov. 3 election.
This story will be updated as more results are released, and all results are unofficial until canvassed.
What's happening
Proposition A, a $260 million parks bond, and Proposition B, a $35 million library bond, both won early support from Austin voters.
Proposition A had more than 62.5% of early votes cast in favor, and Proposition B had 62%.
Proposition A would support a variety of park improvements and land acquisitions across the city, while Proposition B would fund two library branch projects in Southwest and far East Austin. More information on named bond projects is available from the city.
The context
The bonds are the first to be considered by Austin voters since a $350 million affordable housing proposition was approved in 2022, and the first to include parks and library funding since 2018.
The measures were placed on the ballot by the City Council, which advanced the propositions despite some officials' reservations and against the financial recommendations of city staff. Austinites may next consider larger bond packages in 2028 and 2034 as city leaders seek to transition to six-year cycles of broader comprehensive bonds only.
The new debt from Propositions A and B is expected to cost taxpayers about $11 per $100,000 of property value a year once fully issued. Tax impacts are expected to begin in 2027 and gradually increase into the early 2030s; the city projects issuing about $49 million annually over six years.
Based on this year's typical city median home value of $377,282, the typical homeowner would see an impact of just under $7 next year, rising to about $41.60 once all bonds are issued. Those estimates are subject to change based on changing property values, tax rolls and bond issuances.
