Important Background Information on Austin Bond Elections

Local media in Austin has done a surprisingly good job covering the upcoming bond election:

On the shady nature of holding an election in May:



Highlights:

• The required approval of the voter is being circumvented.

• 6% turnout in 2006; 2.5% in 2010
• Less than 10,000 total votes.
• That many people work for the district.

• This is as close as you can get to rigging an election without having handcuffs put on your wrists.

On the horrid idea of using long-term debt for short term maintenance:



Highlights:

• This bond issue is the equivalent of taking out a second mortgage to fund maintainence.

• Property taxes WILL go up.

• This type of financial shenanigans would be illegal in Houston or Round Rock
• Author's Note: That's EXACTLY what New York City did in the 1970's.

AISD low-balling the tax hike



Highlights:

• The potential tax hike in this proposal could be twice what AISD says it could be, and that's on top of the tax hike last year.

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Early voting is next week; please take five minutes and vote no on this boondoggle.