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Richardson council leans to combine charter and bond elections in May 2026 to save roughly $175,000
Summary
The Richardson City Council signaled a consensus to combine the city—2—8—8s proposed charter amendment and a bond program election in May 2026 after staff told members the move could save about $175,000.
The Richardson City Council signaled a consensus to combine a proposed charter amendment election with a bond program election in May 2026 after staff said doing so would save the city roughly $175,000 in the FY26 budget.
City Manager Don Magner told the council that if the two elections are combined instead of held separately the city could "save us about approximately $175,000 in FY '26." Magner also cautioned that combining the elections would not accelerate project construction, noting the city would not sell bonds until April 2027.
Why it matters: Council members framed the choice as a tradeoff between short-term savings and having additional time to refine bond project prioritization. Several members, including Mayor Pro Tem Hutchenrider, said the savings were important in a tight budget year, while others urged more time to review studies and build public understanding.
Councilman Justice asked a procedural question about deadlines; staff replied that to target a May 2026 election the council would need to call the special election in February 2026. Staff said calling a May election would require a midyear FY26 budget adjustment to allocate the bond election costs; calling it in November 2026 would allow the expense to be included in the FY27 budget.
Outcome and next steps: No formal ordinance or motion was required at the meeting; staff recommended the council proceed by consensus and to not take action on a later agenda item if the council preferred the May 2026 timing. Council members indicated they were generally inclined to move both items to May 2026; staff said a formal resolution or ordinance would appear on a future agenda for the council to set an election date and any accompanying budget adjustments.
What remains unresolved: Council did not set a final date in the session and left open the option to call the charter separately if needed. Staff also noted that some portions of the FY26 work plan would need to be prioritized earlier if the council opts for a May election.
