[City of Austin logo] 2026 Bond, Click here to learn more!

This page provides information related to the development of the 2026 General Obligation (GO) Bond Program. The process kicked off in December 2024, and the Task Force is anticipated to formally present their recommendation to the City Council on April, 2026.

Bond Election Advisory Task Force

The Austin City Council formed the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) in July 2024.  It is composed of 22 members appointed by the City Council and the Mayor. The BEATF is tasked with identifying and prioritizing bond funding for projects to be included in a 2026 Bond Referendum.

2026 Bond Program Updates

Since October 2024, City departments, led by Capital Delivery Services, have been preparing a comprehensive set of bond-eligible projects for possible inclusion in the 2026 Bond Program. Departments evaluated and scored projects using a priority matrix aligned with six guiding principles: community consideration, affordability, innovation, sustainability and resilience, proactive prevention, and community trust and relationships.

On July 31, 2025, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) was provided the Initial Project Request List. City staff will support the BEATF in the critical task of determining which projects and programs to recommend for voter consideration, further refining the Initial Project Request List through additional scoping, cost estimation, and community input.

On January 21, 2026, the City's Initial Draft Recommendations list, developed from identified community needs, was submitted to the Mayor and City Council. Representatives across City departments scored hundreds of individual project requests using several criteria including timeliness and readiness, critical need and efficiency. Through a structured and collaborative review process, the City refined the needs assessment into their Initial Recommendation list totaling $700 million.

Bond Election Advisory Task Force Working Groups

The BEATF created 6 working groups to deliberate on and make recommendations to the full Task Force regarding the 2026 Bond.

Affordable Housing

The Affordable Housing Working Group is tasked with reviewing the 2026 bond requests related to affordable housing infrastructure and making recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Investments in Facilities and Assets

The Facilities and Assets Working Group reviews capital renewal recommendations provided by various departments and makes recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Parkland and Open Space

The Parkland and Open Space Working Group is tasked with reviewing the 2026 bond requests related to parkland acquisition and open space, and making recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Stormwater

The Stormwater Working Group is tasked with reviewing the 2026 bond requests related to drainage infrastructure and making recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Transportation and Electrification

The Transportation and Electrification Infrastructure Working Group is tasked with reviewing the 2026 bond requests related to transportation infrastructure and making recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Community Engagement

The Community Engagement Working Group is tasked with reviewing community engagement and strategic communication efforts associated with the 2026 bond and making recommendations to the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

Community Listening Sessions

The Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) is hosting three Community Listening Sessions in November 2025 to collect public feedback that will inform their recommendations to City Council and the Mayor for the 2026 bond program. 

Date

Time

Location

Notes
Sat., November 15 6 - 8 p.m. Gus Garcia Recreation Center
1201 E Rundberg Ln
Austin, TX 78753		 Registration
Tues., November 18 6 - 8 p.m. Virtual Meeting Zoom meeting link & details will be
provided after Registration.
Thurs., November 20 6 - 8 p.m. Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center
2407 Canterbury St
Austin, TX 78702		 Registration


These listening sessions are your opportunity to:

  • Learn who they are and their call to action
  • Understand the financial policies and limitations guiding their decisions
  • Help prioritize which projects are selected for their final bond recommendations
  • When you speak up, you help build a bond package that truly reflects community needs.

Each session will provide:

  • A brief overview of the BEATF’s role and process
  • Learn what input they need from you to help make decisions about Bond recommendations to the City Council and the Mayor
  • Share your top community priorities
  • Tell us which projects you’d cut or refine
  • We’ll also outline how your feedback is incorporated into the bond package. 

Initial Draft Recommendations Open House series

Austin continues to face significant infrastructure challenges, including aging facilities, growing service demands, and affordability pressures.  Without strategic investment, the City risks falling behind on critical infrastructure needs, which could result in increased maintenance costs and reductions in service availability. The 2026 bond program is being developed to address Austin’s most pressing infrastructure needs with investments that maximize public dollars and deliver the greatest benefit to the community.

Your input is essential as the 2026 Bond Program team works to develop investments that are responsive, balanced, and aligned with Austin’s long-term needs.

Join us at an open house to learn about proposed bond projects and share feedback that will help shape final recommendations to City Council and the Mayor. Your input will help ensure these investments reflect Austin’s most pressing infrastructure needs and community priorities.

Below are several dates and locations available for participation:

Date Time Location Notes
Tues., February 17 4 - 8 p.m.   Montopolis Recreation Center
1200 Montopolis Dr
Austin, TX 78741		 Registration
Sat., February 21 10 a.m - 
2 p.m.		 Northwest Recreation Center
2913 Northland Dr
Austin, TX 78757		 Registration
Tues., February 24 11 a.m. - 
1 p.m.		 Virtual Meeting Registration
Wed., February 25 4 - 8 p.m. Permitting and Development Center
6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr,
Austin, TX 78752		 Registration
Sat., February 28 11 a.m. - 
3 p.m.		 Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center
808 Nile St
Austin, TX 78702		 Registration

 

These open house events are your opportunity to:

  • Understand the Bond program process, phases, and how community input has informed progress to date.
  • Engage directly to subject matter experts to clarify project details, feasibility, and intended outcomes.
  • Provide written feedback on proposed Bond projects included in the Initial Draft Recommendations list.
  • Participate in Public Survey 2

Public Survey 2 is being developed to bring community members closer to the decision-making process by asking about:

  • Confidence in the proposed projects
  • Perceived feasibility and value of proposed projects
  • Project support and prioritization
  • Provide sentiment feedback on affordability impacts related to the proposed bond