AUSTIN, Texas — Austin voters have a lot to consider this election season, and one big ticket item is the nearly $1 billion bond proposal.
The $925 million proposition is split across seven different categories, with the biggest bond on the ballot dedicated to affordable housing.
Under the $250 million affordable housing bond is a $28 million project dedicated to the “GO Repair!” program. The City of Austin partners with nonprofit organizations to provide repairs to income-qualified homeowners.
Daniel and Olga Robles have lived in their South Austin home for more than 25 years.
"We worked as a team to try to keep it up to par, but once you reach a certain age, you can’t do it very much anymore," Daniel Robles said.
They get help from Interfaith Action of Central Texas. The organization works on drywall and flooring repairs and with electrical, plumbing, and mechanical needs. The goal is to improve accessibility, and address conditions that pose health and safety risks.
"It’s a dream come true, because they did help quite a bit and at the time, I wasn’t working anymore, I didn’t know how were going to paint our house, how we were going to do any repairs. We’re both disabled and it’s kind of hard," Daniel Robles said.
Like many longtime residents, the Robles family is also grappling with the rising costs of living in Austin.
"We’re barely making it, because we thank God, we’re sliding through," Daniel Robles said.
Wednesday, bond supporters joined Mayor Steve Adler to launch an official campaign to pass the proposition. Adler said there was nothing more important to him until November than helping to get voter approval.
"These are critical needs, this is when the community really needs to get together and invest in ourselves,” Adler said. “We all love this city, but we have to preserve it."
The total amount of the bonds for which voter approval is sought is $925 million, split among Propositions A-G.
• Proposition A -- $250 million for affordable housing;
• Proposition B -- $128 million for libraries, museums and cultural centers;
• Proposition C -- $149 million for parks and recreation;
• Proposition D -- $184 million for flood mitigation, open space, and water quality protection;
• Proposition E -- $16 million for health and human services;
• Proposition F -- $38 million for public safety; and
• Proposition G -- $160 million for transportation infrastructure.