[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6683938,"mediaKeyId","3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6","parentId",3868949,"title","Watershed Protection says Prop D (2018) bond mostly committed; acquisition and construction underway, small balance may carry into 2027","audioSeconds",1038,"startMs",1346000,"endMs",2384000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6&start=1346&end=2384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6/thumbnail_1346000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6683938/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Watershed-Protection-says-Prop-D-2018-bond-mostly-committed-acquisition-and-construction-underway-small-balance-may-carry-into-2027","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683938-d063b5688587f6e01831d757156a868a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146653&Signature=E8e4wp2uSMlzS~lyAVweZQsxEeE8RGz8x7xtwSLGqWZ0h2AO5OM2v1falIA6ss4-Er-Sc4EYAh1yOi~5ZpkThE5aLsol415fz63mVEMmJ7PS8i9O30OodMWNI0~Bv96jRzJyRulaj9~prkxxfJuf-mr1kLAY7qAHd-kvBOQvXSGjul9tVTvaEHIWh8tEV-MA6zmyu~M2jauxg9cOstWbdNH-8SEfI219ui0Ikx1ulg8a74q-3-ligfmeHyVoNhQRb26r5iPEf8qnXe0f7-DtmX2D9xphCQYpZHQNLNzYljOCyBGzOrD8ex6k66dEMLjdimInRR2lSQ0LWAbo-tcSvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Janae Spence, assistant director for project design and delivery at the Watershed Protection Department, and Susan (capital program consultant) briefed the Bond Oversight Commission on the status of the 2018 Proposition D bond program.

Spence said Prop D authorized $184,000,000 in 2018, split roughly $112,000,000 for flood mitigation and drainage and $72,000,000 for open-space and water-quality protection. As of the briefing, staff reported funding was 95% committed and appropriated; most remaining balances are tied to projects in design or construction. \"Our mission is to protect the lives, property, and environment of our community by reducing the impact of flooding, erosion, and water pollution,\" Spence said when introducing the program priorities.

Staff walked commissioners through the project portfolio and phases: 29 flood-mitigation and drainage projects are funded by the bond, 14 in design (roughly half early/mid and half late-stage design), seven in construction, three in bid/award and four completed or in post-construction. Watershed said it acquired nearly 6,800 acres of water-quality protection lands with the bond funding and that those acquisitions contribute to a contiguous protected area in the Barton Springs recharge zone. One highlighted purchase was a 202-acre conservation easement tied to the Shield Ranch and The Nature Conservancy.

Project examples given in the briefing included the Little Walnut (Mearns Meadow) creek flood-risk reduction project — described as a large box culvert and detention-pond connection intended to remove the threat of flooding to at least 60 of roughly 80 properties in the plan area — which carried approximately $19.5 million in bond appropriations with about $4.7 million currently obligated. The Roy G. Guerrero Park channel-stabilization project, Watershed's largest erosion project, carried about $10.7 million in bond funding and began construction in August 2022 with substantial completion expected within months.

A local-flood example presented was the January Dry (Walnut Creek) project, currently in construction and intended to reduce flooding for 13 buildings and one street by installing approximately 1,700 linear feet of pipe; Watershed reported about $3.3 million obligated for that work. Staff said many projects are east of MoPac where earlier development produced known drainage problems.

Commissioners pressed Watershed on the risk of designing projects before construction funding is secured. Spence and staff explained that departments attempt to make projects \"shovel ready\" for a future bond and that the city uses a combination of drainage-utility fees for smaller projects and future bonds for larger capital construction. On buyouts, staff said acquisitions or buyouts are typically considered during feasibility and the professional-engineering-report (PER) phase; if no practicable structural solution exists, a buyout may be the appropriate remedy and is pursued with sensitivity to community impacts.

Spence said the department is pushing to spend out the bond by the FY2026 target but acknowledged a remaining balance of around $7–8 million that staff expect to program into the five-year plan and aim to obligate by early 2027.

What happens next: Watershed will continue to advance late-stage designs into construction where possible, coordinate use of drainage-utility funding for smaller projects, and present updated spend plans to the commission as the city prepares for a potential 2026 bond election.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Bond Oversight Commission - Jun 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Janae Spence, assistant director for project design and delivery at the Watershed Protection Department, and Susan (capital program consultant) told the Bond Oversight Commission that the 2018 Proposition D bond — $112 million for flood mitigation and $72 million for open space/water quality — is about 95% committed and that most remaining funds are in design or construction.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6683940,"Austin officials outline $358.1 million expected 2025 general-obligation bond sale; closing targeted Oct. 2",431,187000,618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6&start=187&end=618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6683940/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-officials-outline-3581-million-expected-2025-general-obligation-bond-sale-closing-targeted-Oct-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683940-7d3d1daabdbba6dfc68710b5ee35ebc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146653&Signature=O~1tnNkC1h1O2ZtQOp7pigRpfxWcncvMfvZmHFWhPexvmv8T0EfUYvf9l83pJz2EP5eDFLFSjQfIV2h8kd48u4f~LTIaBddAto8czb8IFpVOCXzIqRJVVOvM25wOUCpvQ2Ryx4p9jNvqK59m-bkB2hv0h~S2s0ZtC1eCWuVqk-86Xn9R-T9DUnxqHtPX8AopT1z6TXyU-vFwR2LlDXO3UQxCtljXHTvSD0lMpYaJSX7UibsMCrjOSv8zh8t3KYEy5wBLReN7a~KVfLc8W8pT-3BQz2HNY-Y2Gdf3n0HaTwLDvigkii53ruOG0IXkaQMFFKv4TgoT5c3h5J8FLfIwIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Treasurer Belinda Weaver told the Bond Oversight Commission on a June staff briefing that the city expects to issue roughly $358,100,000 in public-improvement general-obligation (GO) bonds in the 2025 sale and will seek a council ordinance to set sale parameters on the July 24 council agenda.

Weaver said the city has $1.895 billion in outstanding GO debt backed by ad valorem property taxes and that the FY2025 property tax rate was 47.76 cents per $100 of assessed value, of which 9.61 cents pays debt service and 38.15 cents covers operations and maintenance. \"The city's property tax rate is comprised of two portions. It's the operations and maintenance portion, and the debt service portion,\" Weaver said.

The presentation explained the three GO debt types Austin issues: voter-authorized public-improvement bonds (20-year term), certificates of obligation for nonmovable capital like buildings (20-year term, not voter authorized), and contractual obligations for movable personal property such as vehicles (seven-year term, not voter authorized). Treasury staff said the city uses reimbursement resolutions at project outset so departments may spend and later reimburse from bond proceeds, reducing arbitrage risk and avoiding interest on idle funds.

Joey Keller, division chief over debt management, walked commissioners through the issuance steps and the bond timetable. The city began preparing the preliminary official statement in early June, will ask council to adopt a parameters ordinance in July, expects a negotiated sale in September and is targeting an October 2 closing. \"That is our guideline ... we generally have the sale in September and close on the bonds in October,\" Weaver said.

The proposed series 2025 sale was described as predominantly transportation-focused within the public-improvement allocation; staff said older voter-authorized programs still have unissued balances. After the sale, staff estimated roughly $1.02 billion of voter-authorized GO bonds would remain unissued. The 2022 program includes a $75 million remaining allocation for affordable housing, staff said.

Commissioners questioned whether the city’s timeline is flexible in light of market moves. Weaver and Keller said the September-to-October schedule is a customary guideline but can be adjusted; pricing-to-closing requires a minimum period (about three weeks) and staff monitors markets while preparing documents. One commissioner observed that potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later in the year could reduce interest costs on future issuance, a dynamic staff said they monitor but would not assume as certain savings when setting timing.

Commissioners also asked about reimbursement resolutions and how bonds are chosen for sale. Weaver said reimbursement resolutions are established when projects are appropriated in the capital budget, and the finance office bases issuance decisions on actual expenditures \"out the door\" and forecasted spending needs — not simply on the presence of appropriation and reimbursement authority.

The commission asked staff to provide follow-up on a long-standing 2006 voter-authorized balance of about $4 million tied to the Mexic-Arte project; staff agreed to return with an update.

Minutes approval: the commission approved minutes from its prior meeting by motion and voice vote; the record shows a single affirmative response in the transcript but no roll-call tally was recorded on the record provided.

What happens next: staff will bring the parameters ordinance to city council in July and continue market monitoring and document preparation ahead of the anticipated September pricing and early-October closing. The commission will receive further updates as sale documents and departmental spending plans are refined.","City Treasurer Belinda Weaver told the Bond Oversight Commission the city plans a negotiated sale of about $358.1 million in public improvement general-obligation bonds, with council approval of parameters planned in late July and a closing targeted for Oct. 2.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6683936,"Commission hears update on Bond Election Advisory Task Force; finance suggests $760 million top line for 2026",296,3241000,3537000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6&start=3241&end=3537","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868949-d6e9f64b87c748b7327734f02d9eb9f6/thumbnail_3241000.jpg","/articles/6683936/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Commission-hears-update-on-Bond-Election-Advisory-Task-Force-finance-suggests-760-million-top-line-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683936-eaf105520f5baa7683ea231391bb0368/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146653&Signature=hUMo4brH8hEdZYy6tZZcFaB885f6gUgre6oUG-9fnO5MxIrjcw7Ff7GRTIr5atU8K7M-W-mzkEP0wwW8FMs0OlXrRr1e2l7ejIDu95uEzwzEF5LA3tZmOkYouIdP3zfHWr-QjFHUASJ5LaWwLjDavxrGFy6tv83eYiUlmuBmWN0AwVwwOGG2waaTYzL-Fw2DHhwQem0rUAg52mv-1HNgDSSSUy9ykYlpKi7PpREqNIyhZOxb4kBn9~HZkLhr53u2ctpKeNJJOsdogjEDNovCQ1PXSf15-YuOKPEBOmkfnXaucklHUIvQ6JEP8UAhqarTFZEyhhXaqrcWcFAPyLFnKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commission members received an update on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) and early sizing work for a possible 2026 bond election.

Commissioner Charles Curry and others described recent finance presentations to the task force showing that, based on current projections of authorized-but-unissued bonds and projected spend-down, the earliest fiscally consistent timing for a new bond election is 2026 rather than 2024. Commissioners discussed the role of the city's financial policy — which staff said rating agencies consider when assessing municipal credit — and noted that the policy is advisory but intended to signal fiscal limits.

JC Dwire, a commissioner who also serves on the task force, told the commission that finance staff provided an \"official recommendation\" of a top line of about $760,000,000 for planning purposes for a 2026 bond. \"That number is flexible,\" Dwire said, \"but it's sort of a placeholder for now. That's what we're gonna be shooting at for a total amount for 2026.\" He also described task-force work to collect eligible project lists and a ranking matrix that will inform final ballot recommendations.

Staff noted a public-input survey is open for the task force and asked commission members to help distribute it; the survey had roughly 700 responses at the time of the briefing with a goal of 1,000 responses. Several commissioners suggested the oversight commission and task force could coordinate to prepare an accessible \"spend-down\" overview showing how prior bonds have been obligated and where remaining funds are committed to help address likely public questions and counter potential opposition related to unspent bond buckets.

What happens next: the task force will continue to gather project nominations, refine ranking criteria and working-group recommendations, and expect to present a more developed project list and recommendations in the coming months. Commissioners discussed possible joint work between the oversight commission and task force to produce explanatory materials for the public and for stakeholders ahead of final sizing and a council decision.","Members discussed a Bond Election Advisory Task Force update and finance department projections that the city's authorized-but-unissued bonds could support a bond election in 2026, with staff recommending a top line near $760 million as a placeholder for planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Watershed Protection says Prop D (2018) bond mostly committed; acquisition and construction underway, small balance may carry into 2027

Austin officials outline $358.1 million expected 2025 general-obligation bond sale; closing targeted Oct. 2

Commission hears update on Bond Election Advisory Task Force; finance suggests $760 million top line for 2026