2021 Special Election

2021 Special Election

Special Election Proposition C passed on 11/3/2021.  

Total Election Results:

  • Proposition A FOR: 474 (61.08)% AGAINST: 302 (34.92%) Total Votes: 776
    • Election Day Vote Total: 287
    • Mail and Early Voting Total: 489
    • Provisional Ballots: 0
  • Proposition B FOR: 576 (74.32%) AGAINST: 199 (25.68%) Total Votes: 775
    • Election Day Vote Total: 285
    • Mail and Early Voting Total: 490
    • Provisional Ballots: 0
  • Proposition C FOR: 531 (68.87%) AGAINST: 240 (31.13%) Total Votes Cast 771 
    • Election Day Vote Total: 287
    • Mail and Early Voting Total: 489
    • Provisional Ballots: 0

For full results click here

The City held a Bond Election and a Special Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 for 3 Propositions.  The Bond Election is to issue bonds to fund a new City Hall and to issue bonds to fund public street improvements.  More information on the Bond Election can be found on our Bond Information page here.

Voters, in a separate election held on Nov. 2, will have an opportunity to undo a sales tax diversion that was enacted in the mid-1990s. If approved by voters, the 1/2 cent of sales tax revenue that is currently funding property tax relief, would instead be allocated to a dedicated fund for road repair and maintenance.

State law allows cities to collect up to 2 cents from the maximum 8.25% sales tax levy and permits them to allocate a portion of that revenue to dedicated funds for specific purposes such as economic development, property tax relief, and road repair and maintenance. Those separate allocations require voter approval. Neighboring cities, such as Rollingwood, Bee Cave, Lakeway and Sunset Valley use a portion of sales tax revenue for road maintenance and repair. It is a tool that allows small cities to provide a dedicated revenue source to maintain their streets.

In fiscal year 1995-1996, our city tax rate was 0.1614 cents per $100 valuation - more than twice the current rate. This was around the time that the Village Shopping Center on Bee Cave Rd at Loop 360 opened for business, and it was expected to produce a big increase in sales tax revenue. To this day, collectively the businesses in that shopping center are the top generators of sales tax revenue for the city, which helps fund all city operations.

In anticipation of that extra sales tax revenue, the City Council voted to reduce the property tax rate to .0.0825 cents for the following fiscal year and they put a proposition before voters to adopt, by election, an additional sales sax and use tax at the rate of one-half of one percent (0.50%) to create a specially dedicated fund that would be used for property tax relief.

Voters approved the proposition, and as a result, the city’s share of sales tax revenue dropped from two cents to one and a half cents. The additional 1/2 cent has been used for property tax relief ever since that time.

While that diversion helped keep property taxes low, it has resulted in the loss of $15 million of sales tax revenue to the city since it was enacted.

Property taxes account for roughly one-third of the city’s general fund and sales tax revenue and various fees generate the remaining two-thirds. Next year the city is projecting collecting about $2 million in property tax revenue. That will not cover next year’s police department’s budget of $2.39 million.

If approved by voters, this ballot initiative would eliminate the special dedicated fund to reduce property taxes and replace it with a special dedicated fund that would be used exclusively for road repair and maintenance for the next four years.

Impact to West Lake Hills Property Owners
If Proposition C passes, the median WLH home owner will pay $586 more in city taxes.

  • The median West Lake Hills home value is $1,449,652.
  • The current WLH property tax rate is $0.0786 per $100 of valuation.
  • If Prop. C passes, the WLH property tax rate would increase to $0.1190 per $100 of valuation.
  • If the reallocation of the sales tax is approved by voters, the street and road maintenance sales tax would expire four years after it takes effect, unless the city’s voters reauthorize it to continue for that purpose.

Important 2021 Election Documents

Important Election Dates - 2021

  • Friday, January 1, 2021: First Day to Apply for a Ballot by Mail
  • Monday, October 4, 2021: Last Day to Register to Vote
  • Monday, October 18, 2021: First Day of Early Voting
  • Friday, October 22, 2021: Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
  • Friday, October 29, 2021: Last Day of Early Voting
  • Tuesday, November 2, 2021: Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail
  • Tuesday, November 2, 2021: Election Day