At a Glance
- Mayor Kirk Watson proposes a new policy to clarify council office spending.
- Draft limits funds from donations, transfers, and sets clear permissible uses.
- Policy includes monthly expense reports and public access to data.
- Why it matters: It gives Austin residents clearer insight into how their tax dollars fund city council operations.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has unveiled a draft policy that seeks to make the spending of council and mayoral offices more transparent and easier to understand. The proposal, presented in the city’s budget, focuses on how the roughly 70 employees and their associated expenses are funded.
Policy Goals and Scope
The mayor’s draft aims to consolidate existing administrative bulletins into a single reference and to define precisely what council office budgets may cover. It addresses expenditures for workspaces, art, travel, and event hosting that currently lack a unified framework.
Permissible uses
- Office supplies
- Non-political or non-campaign-related newsletters
- Food and beverage for city meetings
- Travel when a council member or office is traveling to serve a city purpose
Prohibited uses
- Donations or contributions outside of the City organization, such as nonprofit organizations
- Transfers to other city council office budgets or departments
Transparency and Reporting
The draft would require Austin Financial Services to issue monthly expense reports for each council office, and the Office of Budget and Organizational Excellence would review them annually. Public access to expense reports and quarterly ProCard reporting would also be mandated.
> “I just want to make sure that in any zeal to clip expenses that we’re not just eliminating what I think are very helpful expenses that enable the public to engage,”
> – Austin City Council Member Chito Vela
> “I’m sharing the CC (credit card) charges with the X world so everyone can see the choices these folks make with your tax dollars. Dig in and help expose the examples that stand out to you,”
> – Local attorney Bill Aleshire
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14 | Audit and Finance Committee review | Draft policy presented |
| Jan. 22 | Full City Council vote | Policy to be approved or rejected |
Key Takeaways
- Draft policy clarifies permissible spending and imposes limits on donations and transfers.
- Mandatory monthly reporting increases transparency and public oversight.
- The policy will be voted on Jan. 22 after committee review.
If approved, the new policy could reshape how Austin residents see every dollar spent by their city council.
