Austin Public School District board calls special election on $66.7 million facilities bond referendum

The Austin Public School District board voted to call a special election on a two-question bond referendum that would authorize $66,700,000 in facility work, board members said at the meeting.

The measure as presented would ask voters to approve Question 1, a $54,700,000 package for major repairs and renovations across eight district buildings — including upgraded mechanical systems, safer entrances, accessible restrooms and classroom renovations — and Question 2, a $12,000,000 renovation and expansion of the 50-year-old Ellis Middle School. Question 2 would only take effect if Question 1 also passes.

Why it matters: Board leaders and administrators said the district’s facility assessment and planning process, begun in 2023, identified aging systems and safety/accessibility needs across multiple buildings. District officials said delaying the work risks higher costs later and further degradation of learning spaces; they also noted that state aid and tax-credit programs would offset a portion of the local cost if voters approve the referendum.

Key facts and timeline - Total requested: $66,700,000 (Question 1: $54,700,000; Question 2: $12,000,000). - If the board’s call is placed on the November ballot and voters approve the questions, administrators said the district would assemble a project committee, complete bid specifications and plan construction; bond sale and procurement steps make the earliest likely start for major construction June–July 2026. - Estimated election administration cost (county-run special election): roughly $28,000–$33,000. The district included an estimate in its current budget as a placeholder.

Discussion and board questions Board members pressed administrators on which needs are nondiscretionary versus discretionary. Board member Dr. Finch asked whether items on Question 1 are essential repairs that must be done regardless of the referendum outcome; superintendent Dr. Page and staff answered that the facility assessment prioritized needs and that the referendum packages group high-priority items together while also including projects that otherwise would fall outside routine operating budgets. Board members acknowledged tax sensitivity in the community but said inaction would likely increase repair costs over time.

Process and next steps Superintendent Dr. Page told the board that if voters approve the referendum the district will form a committee, work with architects and construction managers to prepare bid documents, and schedule bond sales; staff and the district’s financial adviser outlined that the bond sale and procurement timeline would push physical work into mid-2026. District officials also described outreach plans and said they would coordinate communications, multilingual engagement and community meetings to explain projects and tax impacts to voters.

Formal action The board approved a resolution calling the special election on the two-question bond referendum. The motion was made by board member Bob Carpenter; an unnamed board member seconded. The board then voted; the motion passed (recorded in the meeting as "Aye. Motion passes.").

What wasn’t decided Administrators and board members discussed funding offsets such as state aid and tax credits, but did not present final tax-rate calculations in the meeting packet; the district said tax calculations and detailed levy impacts will be shared as the project schedule and bond sizing are finalized. Board members noted that if voters reject the referendum the district would need to seek alternative funding, delay projects, or make programmatic or staffing trade-offs to meet essential repairs.

Provenance Transcript excerpt: opening of the bond/referendum discussion begins at speaker block starting at timestamp 4956.585 and continues through the board’s vote recorded at timestamp 7136.875.