Letter from Leadership Concerning Propositions A and B

The letter below is a message from 2026 Momentum Chair Writ Baese. Visit our webpage for more information about Propositions A and B.

Dear Round Rock Chamber Investors,

Round Rock has worked hard to earn its reputation as one of the most business-friendly, well-managed cities in Texas. We consistently rank among the top cities in the nation for quality of life, fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, and safety. On May 2, 2026, that reputation is on the ballot. Two proposed amendments to the City Charter, Proposition A and Proposition B, pose a real threat to the community and the business environment we have built together. I am writing to urge you to vote NO on Propositions A and B.

Proposition A would allow up to 12 privately-owned electronic billboards along IH-35 and SH-45, introducing 24 digital faces into corridors that define how businesses, visitors, and prospective investors see our city for the first time. This same effort failed in 2023 when the petition behind it fell short of valid signatures, and it is back again, submitted by the same individual behind Proposition B. Round Rock holds a Scenic City Gold rating that reflects our community standards and supports our property values. Only 2% of Round Rock residents say they want more billboards. This proposal does not reflect our community, and it should not be included in our City Charter.

Proposition B is a consequential measure and deserves serious attention from everyone invested in Round Rock’s future. It would permanently write NFPA 1710 fire staffing mandates into the City Charter, handing compliance enforcement authority to the International Association of Fire Fighters, a national union, rather than our locally-elected leaders. The City’s own Fiscal Impact Report puts the total cost of compliance at $228.2 million, requiring 207 new firefighter positions and three additional fire stations over eight years. The estimated tax rate impact is 11.6 cents per $100 of valuation, a 31% increase in property taxes.

Every business leader in Round Rock should pay close attention to what Proposition B means for our economic future. When companies evaluate where to locate or expand, tax rate and cost of doing business sit at the top of every site selection checklist. A 31% property tax increase affects workforce attraction and retention, operating costs, and the bottom line of every business in this city. It signals to prospective employers and investors that Round Rock’s fiscal environment is unpredictable and driven by outside mandates rather than sound local planning. We have spent decades building a tax structure and a business climate that attracts companies and creates jobs. Proposition B puts that at risk.

This opposition is not about public safety. Round Rock’s Fire Department holds an ISO Class 1 rating (the highest possible rating), sends 20 to 23 firefighters to every structure fire, and enjoys a 90% community satisfaction rating. The fire department budget has grown 46% since FY2022, and the City’s five-year plan already adds 33 new firefighter positions and two new fire stations through 2030. Our firefighters are outstanding professionals, and our community is fully committed to supporting them. What we cannot support is locking a one-size-fits-all national standard into our Charter, waiving the City’s sovereign immunity, and handing a national union the authority to drag our city into court if staffing benchmarks are not met at any point in future.

The Round Rock Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose both propositions. I hope you will join us. Early voting starts today and continues through April 28^th on the dates noted below:

• Monday, April 20, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (no voting on Tuesday, April 21)
• Wednesday, April 22 – Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (no voting on Sunday, April 26)
• Monday, April 27 – Tuesday, April 28, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Election Day is Saturday, May 2.

You may vote at any of the three early voting locations:

• Allen R. Baca Center, 301 W. Bagdad Ave
• Wilco Jester Annex, 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd
• Sleep Inn and Suites, 1980 S. IH 35

Please take 5 minutes out of your day to vote, and please vote NO on Propositions A and B.

Writ Baese
2026 Round Rock Chamber Momentum Chair