The Bond Election Advisory Task Force has cut nearly $1 billion in citywide capital improvement needs to a $575 million potential bond package that will be presented to Austin City Council on June 5 at the regularly scheduled council work session. It is up to City Council to decide whether to ask voters to approve a bond package in the November election.
The $575 million package, approved by the 15-member citizen task force May 14, is a departure from a recommendation from City of Austin staff to cut a $1.5 billion list of capital improvement needs to packages of $400 million, $300 million and $200 million.
"They as a task force felt like there was such need in the community that providing council with a larger package is a statement about that need," explained Molly Scarbrough, program consultant for the city's Capital Planning Office.
The task force will meet May 21 at 6 p.m. at One Texas Center to compile a $400 million package, which would also be presented to council June 5. Scarbrough said she expects the task force to also provide council with a list of worthy projects that were cut, not because of merit but because they were not developed enough to garner inclusion right now but may deserve review at a later date.
