Early voting has begun in Texas and there are three measures on the ballot critical for funding parks in Travis County and across the state of Texas. Austin Parks Foundation is proud to endorse both Travis County bond proposals, as well as the proposed Prop 14 amendment to the state constitution. These measures will provide much needed support for not only our community but our whole state and represent an investment in both ourselves and the future.
Read on for our breakdown of all three ballot measures so you can vote FOR parks this fall!
Download our one-page voting guide here.
When and Where to Vote in Texas:
Early voting runs from October 23rd through November 3rd with official Election Day voting on November 7th. The final day to request a mail-in ballot is October 27th. You can check your voter registration status and find polling locations at www.votetexas.gov.
State of Texas: Vote YES on Proposition 14
Voters across the State of Texas have the opportunity to vote in favor of a new constitutional amendment that would provide stable, long-term funding for the creation and development of new state parks by creating the Texas Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. The fund would invest $1 billion in new parkland for the State Parks System at no additional cost to Texas taxpayers.
Texas currently ranks 35th in the nation for state parks acreage per capita, according to a report by Environment Texas. The passing of this amendment would mark historic and unprecedented investment in state parks as the Texas State Parks system celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Read more about Proposition 14 and the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund at https://tpwd.texas.gov/prop14/.
Austin Parks Foundation CEO, Colin Wallis, joined other members of the Texas Coalition for State Parks to voice support for Prop 14.
(You can learn more about the 13 other constitutional amendments for Texas on the ballot here or read them in the language that will appear on the ballot here.)
Travis County: Vote YES on Prop A and Prop B
Additionally, residents of Travis County will have the opportunity to support local parks funding by voting YES on Proposition A and Proposition B. Reliable transportation options, a robust parks system and access to open spaces are basic community needs. Both bond proposals are urgently needed to help ensure our community’s quality of life is protected as Travis County continues to experience dramatic population growth and development.
Proposition A: Proposes multi-modal transportation infrastructure investment for projects that address mobility and safety challenges. Each project prioritizes active transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, bike lanes and shared-use paths.
Proposition B: Proposes investment in new and better parks, hike and bike trails, sports facilities and open spaces. Includes funds for land acquisition and conservation to help protect regional air and water quality. It is vital for our local government to invest in parks and open spaces before rapid, ongoing private land development prevents it.
Park improvement from the passing of Props A and B would include projects like construction of synthetic sports fields at Southeast Metro Park in Del Valle, TX.
The total proposed investment for both propositions is $509.5 million – a historic bond investment in Travis County that is still affordable for local taxpayers. If both bonds are approved, the maximum monthly increase to property taxes for owners of median-value Travis County homes would only be approximately $3.76 per month.
(Learn more about Props A and B at www.travistwostep.com.)