The Austin - 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force meeting held on July 28, 2025, focused on the results of a recent community engagement survey aimed at gathering public input for the upcoming bond election. The survey was open for 26 days and was available in four languages, ensuring accessibility through plain language. Conducted via Publicinput.com, the outreach efforts included postcards and media campaigns, resulting in a notable engagement of 2,002 participants. This figure significantly exceeds the typical response rate for similar projects, which usually garners around 800 participants.

The data collection process involved manual downloading and review of all responses, with open-ended comments being analyzed using AI tools, followed by validation by staff to ensure accuracy. The survey revealed that most participants were from South Austin, Northwest Austin, and the Mueller area, with a demographic profile indicating that the average respondent was white, a single-family homeowner, aged 35 to 44, and had a household income exceeding $120,000.

Despite the high participation rate, the survey highlighted limitations in representation, prompting the task force to proactively engage communities that were underrepresented. A heat map of participation indicated areas needing more outreach, and the task force emphasized their commitment to removing barriers for engagement and providing language access.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the next steps for community engagement, particularly focusing on phase two of their outreach plans. The first question posed in the survey asked participants to identify what they believed to be the greatest need for Austin today, setting the stage for further analysis of community priorities.