Group gathers at LBJ High School to oppose AISD bond

Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the November 7th general election where the billion dollar Austin ISD bond is the hot item.
               
Those against it, gathered to make sure voters know what the bond will mean.

A politically diverse group of Austinites set up shop on the corner of LBJ High School.
               
Among the group, representation from East Austin who feel money would disproportionately go to the west side of town.

AISD said that's not the case.
               
There was also fear about closing down schools.

AISD said this bond won't close down schools, that's a separate issue and the possibility of that happening may increase if the bond doesn't pass.
               
One of the Travis County Taxpayers Union's main complaints is that AISD is telling voters the tax rate won't go up but they say the yearly impact on taxpayers will.

AISD says one of the reasons the tax rate won't go up is because won't be getting the money all at one time.

"It's nonsense, it's sheer utter nonsense.  What they're saying is 'if we charge you $1.4 billion over 15 years then it's not $1.4 billion.  It's a ridiculously fraudulent argument," said Don Zimmerman, Director of the Travis County Taxpayer's Union.

"Whether or not this bond passes your tax bills are probably going to go up because we're projecting growth in the economy, the ab values are going to go up and we've always said that from day 1.  We've developed a lot of FAQ's around that.  In fact we've developed a calculator so citizens can understand how their tax bills are derived," said AISD CFO Nicole Conley Johnson

The bond election is November 7th.  Click here for Austin ISD's FAQ about the bond: https://www.austinisd.org/bond/financefaq