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Public commenters press Austin bond task force to fund farmland, Carver Museum, libraries and Garrison Pool
Summary
At the March 23 task force meeting, residents and advocates urged dedicated funding in the 2026 bond for farmland preservation ($15M requested), the Carver Museum expansion ($17M requested), more libraries in Northeast Austin and a $25M replacement for Garrison Pool.
Marissa Bell, a member of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board and assistant director of school food service at Lake Travis Independent School District, told the Bond Election Advisory Task Force on March 23 that the region’s food system is fragile and urged a $15,000,000 carve‑out in the 2026 bond to preserve farmland for local food production. "Without land, there is no supply," Bell said, describing supply‑chain disruptions during COVID‑19 and Winter Storm Uri and warning that local farmland is under intense development pressure.
Why it matters: Advocates said bond dollars could be used as seed funds to unlock federal programs and keep farmers in…
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