Chamber Balks on Bonds

A lot of factors played a role in the Daryl Slusher, Kirk Watson, Bill Spelman push to shift more of the bond package funding into public works and transportation. But the major outside factor was an attempt by the Slusher/Spelman/Watson trio to lobby for the endorsement of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. The chamber came out two weeks ago with a unified recommendation on the public works/transportation side of the package, which specified the goal that transportation spending make up 50% of the total general obligation bonds. As for the other two-thirds of the bond package, however - parks, libraries, water-wastewater bonds - the chamber has remained strategically silent.

The councilmembers aren't the only ones who would like to see the chamber get behind the rest of the bond package. Following its partnership with the chamber in the joint support of the May 2 bonds, the Save Our Springs Alliance had hoped to enlist the business boosters' support for the Greenways and Destination Parks plan. S.O.S. held out as long as it could on its endorsment of the bond package in hopes that a deal could be worked out with the chamber, but then finally had to go it alone late last week.

"We really think there is enormous value in having as broad a base of support for these bonds as possible," says S.O.S. executive director Brigid Shea, who adds that the chamber and S.O.S. made an agreement in May to coordinate their efforts to back the September bond package. S.O.S. even went so far as to get behind the transportation funding, an unusual stretch for the normally solely green group.

According to Chamber President Glenn West, however, it is insufficient planning that is keeping the chamber from coming through. "In the May 2 bond election there was a reasonable plan put forth to the business community about why so much acreage had to be acquired. When there were questions asked, [city] staff typically had good answers." While West says that the chamber understands the issues of social equity and land conservation, he also says the chamber's members are businesspeople who like to see hard numbers, which the Greenways and Destination Parks plan has lacked - particularly in explaining where the operations and maintenance money for the parks will surface from, he said.

One thing's for sure, though: When the chamber talks, council listens. Council did boost transportation funding to approximately 46% of the package, which chamber sources say shows a good-faith effort to comply with their request. Still, though, no promises. Even when the bond package passes council muster today, in whatever form, chamber sources seem dicey on whether or not their group will get behind anything besides money for roads. By avoiding backing controversial projects like the Mexican American Cultural Center and greenways, the chamber could do more than just protect itself from getting tied to losing projects. It could, possibly, sink them. - Kayte VanScoy