The $343 million bond proposals for Austin ISD may have been fraught with complications: questions about how big it should be, what should be left until the next bond in 2010 or 2011, and fears that an edgy electorate may get nervy about tax raises in an uncertain economy. But tonight the voters put a definite yes for all three. This means that the district won’t have to reach into its maintenance and operations budget to pay for the new computers the state is demanding, and can start taking the edge off the worst of that overcrowding.
Plus, as AISD board of trustee’s president Mark Williams pointed out, this is the second time voters have approved funding for a performing arts center, having already put money toward it in the last bond election. So starting the ball rolling on that may be one of the first jobs for new District 3 trustee Christine Brister, who took the seat with pretty much the same 2-1 margin that the bonds passed by.
Final totals after the jump.
Prop. One ($187 million for overcrowding, science labs, technology)
For: 23,282 73.64%
Against: 8,332 26.36%
Prop. Two ($73 million for essential repairs)
For: 22,782 72.24%
Against: 8,756 27.76%
Prop. Three ($82 million for PAC, land for new south high, Anderson High repairs)
For: 21,711 68.90%
Against: 9,801 31.10%
District Three Trustee
Christine Brister: 1,191 63.22%
Jerry Garcia: 693 36.78%
This article appears in May 9 • 2008.
