I know firsthand as a former city employee and from the city auditor’s reports and on-going investigations that the city’s bloated budget stems from waste and mismanagement, which occur when Council does not engage in enough questioning and oversight. We need transparency and accountability, not assumptions. The winning outcome: funding for the city services and projects people value.

 

We need to prioritize maintenance and critical infrastructure projects that improve the everyday Austin experience (e.g., sidewalks, pothole repair, flooding, roadway safety, parks maintenance). The city does not have unlimited funding: we need to focus on needs first before optional wants. I will continue to insist on close monitoring of and public involvement in capital improvement projects to ensure timely and efficient progress of well-designed projects.