The Austin United Political Action Committee has taken its fight against the expansion of the Austin Convention Center to the Texas Supreme Court, following a recent decision by a Travis County district judge that favored the city. This appeal comes just days after the judge ruled against the group’s attempt to halt the construction, which is already in progress and scheduled for completion in 2029.
On Tuesday, the PAC filed an emergency appeal in hopes of securing a voter referendum on the convention center’s expansion plans. Bill Bunch, the attorney representing the committee, emphasized the urgency of the situation, as the deadline for calling an election in May is fast approaching.
“The court does have some leeway for ordering an election after the deadline,” Bunch noted. “However, they have complete discretion regarding whether to address this matter at all or to expedite the process. If not, the appeal could extend into discussions about a potential vote in November.”
Last October, the Austin United PAC submitted a petition featuring over 20,000 signatures, the threshold necessary to prompt an election on the convention center’s expansion. However, the Austin City Clerk, Erika Brady, determined that the petition lacked sufficient valid signatures and subsequently denied it.
The PAC contends that Brady wrongfully disqualified numerous signatures from residents living in extraterritorial and limited purpose jurisdictions, which they believe was a tactic to keep the petition below the required threshold. In December, the group initiated legal action against the city regarding this issue.
During a two-day court hearing last month, Bunch and attorney Bobby Levinski argued that residents from these adjacent areas should have a voice in decisions regarding hotel occupancy tax allocations. Bunch reiterated that the city’s actions disenfranchised these voters, which he claims violates both state law and the city charter.
“The question is whether our suburban voters in the extraterritorial jurisdiction and limited purpose jurisdiction have a right to vote on this matter,” Bunch stated.
While state law permits certain city elections to include voters from these areas, the city maintains that the convention center petition does not fall under that category. A similar proposal was presented to Austin voters in 2019 but ultimately did not succeed.
A spokesperson for the city indicated that staff members are currently reviewing the appeal and will respond as necessary. The expansion project, which is budgeted at $1.6 billion, began last year, with demolition already completed and construction underway, aiming for a grand reopening in Spring 2029.
