Narrow bond losses, precinct undervotes spur Avondale council's re-run debate

A consultant's post-election recap and council discussion Tuesday laid out why last year's bond effort nearly succeeded and what the city might do next.

Paul Bence of High Ground Public Affairs told council turnout for the off-cycle 2025 election was about 16.7% (roughly 7,772 voters), and that both bond questions experienced undervotes: in one case a 295-person undervote and in another about 523 undervotes in the precinct that ultimately swung a measure. "If seven people had changed their vote from no to yes, it would have passed," Bence said, illustrating how narrow margins and undervotes determined the outcome.

The presentation showed the Devonshire precinct as an area strongly affected by a local "no" campaign that depressed results on multiple ballot measures. Council members discussed whether to re-run the bond, whether to create another citizen bond committee and how to time the ballot to reduce cost and increase turnout. Staff told council that a standalone bond election cost around $80,000 in the last cycle but that adding a question to a county-run November election could reduce marginal costs to about $30,000 (county printing and pamphlet costs aside).

Some council members said the bond committee's outreach and citizen champions were valuable and urged rebuilding grassroots support; others worried about spending more while the city is cutting budgets. No formal directive to place a new bond on a specific ballot was adopted; staff were asked to return with options for timing, committee structure and estimated costs.

Council also asked staff to focus outreach to the precincts that undervoted and to consider simplifying ballot language to ensure voters understand where projects would be sited and how they would benefit neighborhoods.

Staff will follow up with cost estimates and an outline of next steps if council decides to re-present the items to voters.