Updated Decision Tree + Q&A
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 3:35 pm
Council—
In anticipation of the upcoming Audit & Finance Committee meeting, I wanted to make a couple of things available to the Council.
I’ve attached an updated proposal for the Decision Tree. This has contributions from our professional finance staff. The changes are based primarily on comments received at the last Audit & Finance Committee meeting. The new version of the proposal also has some color coding to better show what items are current policy and practices and what is new.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153151.pdf
Also attached is a document that answers some questions about the proposal. The finance staff has also made sure the answers to the questions are accurate.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153106.pdf
For clarity, let me state my primary purpose with this proposal. Austin is a growing, successful city. To continue and enhance that success, we need investment that, among other things, improves our quality of life, benefits our economy, and reduces maintenance costs on aging infrastructure. Such investment typically comes from a bond election.
The framework for making these public investments is also important to Austin’s success. If Austin considers borrowing money, plans to collect taxes to pay debt, and promises voters it will timely complete important projects, we should use transparent, understandable, and disciplined thinking about whether we need a bond election, why we need it, and what should be in it.
I think the voters expect us to do this. We need to demonstrate that we are transparent and make understandable, disciplined decisions. After the TRE election, I believe it’s even more important that Austinites have confidence in our processes.
Thanks for your consideration.
Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson
In anticipation of the upcoming Audit & Finance Committee meeting, I wanted to make a couple of things available to the Council.
I’ve attached an updated proposal for the Decision Tree. This has contributions from our professional finance staff. The changes are based primarily on comments received at the last Audit & Finance Committee meeting. The new version of the proposal also has some color coding to better show what items are current policy and practices and what is new.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153151.pdf
Also attached is a document that answers some questions about the proposal. The finance staff has also made sure the answers to the questions are accurate.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153106.pdf
For clarity, let me state my primary purpose with this proposal. Austin is a growing, successful city. To continue and enhance that success, we need investment that, among other things, improves our quality of life, benefits our economy, and reduces maintenance costs on aging infrastructure. Such investment typically comes from a bond election.
The framework for making these public investments is also important to Austin’s success. If Austin considers borrowing money, plans to collect taxes to pay debt, and promises voters it will timely complete important projects, we should use transparent, understandable, and disciplined thinking about whether we need a bond election, why we need it, and what should be in it.
I think the voters expect us to do this. We need to demonstrate that we are transparent and make understandable, disciplined decisions. After the TRE election, I believe it’s even more important that Austinites have confidence in our processes.
Thanks for your consideration.
Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson