AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Young Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors voted to support two Austin-area bond propositions on the ballot in November 2022. 

Both the Austin Independent School District (AISD) bond package and the Austin Community College (ACC) bond package are important investments in workforce development and economic opportunity for young people in Austin; the Austin Young Chamber board is proud to lend public support to these bonds. 

“Austin’s educational institutions play a critical role in the lives and interests of Austin’s young people and the Central Texas economy,” said Austin Young Chamber President & CEO, Joana Ortiz. “The proposed bond packages for AISD and ACC will provide safe and well-equipped learning environments for students to propel them into the workforce. As our city continues to grow and evolve, these strategic investments will benefit our communities for years to come.”

The Austin Young Chamber advocacy committee considered the bonds as part of their “Prop-a-palooza” process where the committee researches and debates ballot propositions. The committee presented their recommendations to the Board in late September and the Austin Young Chamber board voted to adopt the committee’s recommendations on the AISD and ACC bond packages. 

The board encourages their members and the community to also learn more about all of the propositions and make an informed decision when heading to the polls. 

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About Austin Young Chamber 

The Austin Young Chamber supports the Central Texas business community through initiatives and efforts designed to build and strengthen a diverse young professional workforce. Connect with the Austin Young Chamber on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter or check out upcoming programs at austinyc.org. 

Austin ISD Bond Packages

The Austin ISD bond packages are the largest that Austin voters will be considering in November 2022. The $2.44 billion package provides funding for facility improvements, security improvements, modernization of eight high schools, five middle schools and 13 elementary schools, Athletic improvements and technology education spaces. Austin Young Chamber also notes that the process and the final package make important investments in schools that have historically seen less funding. 

The bond is split into three ballot propositions:

• Proposition A: General Purpose $2,316,025,000
• Proposition B: Technology $75,541,000
• Proposition C: Stadiums $47,434,000

The tax investment will be one cent per every $100 of taxable home value in the 2023-2024 school year, but due to tax compression, the overall tax rate for AISD will still decrease. 

Austin Community College Bond

ACC’s $770 million bond is ACC’s first bond since 2014 and would allow ACC to invest in workforce training in high-demand fields, including health care, advanced manufacturing and technology. It would also create two new campuses for rapidly growing parts of our community in southeast and southwest Travis County. 

Of note, ACC hasn’t increased tuition since 2011, helping keep career advancement as affordable as possible for central Texans. 

A taxpayer with a home worth $500,000 would see an increase of $5 per year over the first five years, maxing out at $25 per year—an average of $1.25 per month over five years.

For more voting resources, please visit the Austin Young Chamber’s Voting Resource Page.