Richardson City Council Calls May 2 Bond and Charter Elections

The Richardson City Council voted Monday night to call two elections to be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, placing City Charter amendments and a proposed bond program before voters. The elections were called during the Council's Feb. 9 regular meeting and reflect separate but parallel processes focused on City governance and long-term infrastructure investment.

Passage of the bond propositions would not result in an increase to the City's property tax rate.

About the Bond Election

Voters will consider five propositions totaling $223.4 million to fund infrastructure, public safety and quality-of-life projects across the city. Development of the bond program followed months of public briefings, community feedback and two public hearings.

If approved, the bond program would fund projects in the following areas:

Proposition A: Streets - $132.2 million (59.2%)

The largest proposition of potential bond program project funding is dedicated to street reconstruction, capacity improvements and replacing traffic control devices to include:

• Reconstruction of major collector, neighborhood collector, commercial and residential streets
• Replacement of alley segments at various locations
• Rebuilding traffic signals at intersections and installing new signals at two locations
• Replacing all school zone flashers and adding speed feedback signs citywide
• Completing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance upgrades at signalized intersections
• Advancing the Active Transportation Plan through trail and street-crossing improvements

These projects are intended to extend pavement life, improve driving conditions and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Proposition B: Public Buildings - $36 million (16.1%)

Supports public safety facilities, including:

• A new Fire Apparatus Building
• Additions and renovations at Fire Station No. 6
• Design and future construction authorization for Fire Station No. 7

Proposition C: Parks & Recreation - $22.2 million (9.9%)

Focuses on park and recreation improvements, including:

• Aquatic facility projects such as pool renovations and new spraygrounds
• Playground renovations at multiple neighborhood parks
• Completion of the Breckinridge Park pedestrian bridge and trail connection

Proposition D: Sidewalks - $16.5 million (7.4%)

Addresses sidewalk connectivity and safety by:

• Constructing sidewalks in targeted residential and commercial areas
• Closing priority sidewalk gaps identified through City planning efforts
• Improving pedestrian access to schools, parks, transit, and commercial centers

Proposition E: Drainage - $16.5 million (7.4%)

Drainage improvements include flood prevention and erosion control projects, highlighted by:

• Lois Branch Phase I and II channel improvements in the Highland Terrace area
• Erosion control projects at multiple locations citywide

The Lois Branch project would reduce flood risk, remove several homes from the floodplain and lower water surface elevations in affected areas.

No Tax Rate Increase Associated with Propositions

Passage of the bond propositions would not result in an increase to the City property tax rate. The proposed program is structured within the City's existing debt capacity and long-term financial planning framework.

About the Charter Election

The City Charter functions as Richardson's constitution, outlining how the City Council operates, defining responsibilities for elected officials, and establishing the structure for City governance, including boards, commissions, and local elections. Richardson first adopted its Charter in 1956 and reviews it every 10 years.

Charter Review Process

As required by the City's Home Rule Charter, the City of Richardson conducted a comprehensive Charter review in 2025. To support the review, the City Council appointed an 11-member Charter Review Commission in December 2024. From January through May 2025, the Commission held twice-monthly public meetings to evaluate all 19 articles of the Charter and develop recommendations.

Proposed Amendments

The 2026 Charter Amendment Election includes 50 proposed amendments for voter consideration, including technical adjustments as well as new provisions related to governance and transparency.

Amendment examples include:

• Requiring candidates in Places 1-4 to reside in their district for at least one year prior to the date of election and throughout their term
• Including the City Council-adopted Code of Ethics, to be reviewed every two years
• Increasing City Council compensation to $150 per meeting through January 2030 and increasing to $200 per meeting after that
• Including a "resign-to-run" provision that would require city council members to resign from their current position to run for another elected office should they become a candidate after this provision is approved
• Adding a Continuity of Government provision to ensure operations during emergencies

Additional recommendations include reorganizing sections for clarity and removing outdated references. Each proposed amendment will appear on the May ballot as a separate proposition.

Election Information

Polling locations and hours will be posted to https://www.cor.net/Elections, once available.

Speakers Bureau Available Community groups interested in learning more about the Charter or Bond Election may request a presentation from the City's Speakers Bureau by e-mailing [email protected]. Requests should include the date, time, group name, location and any additional details to help prepare for the event.