Austin residents will vote on an amendment during the midterm election this November requiring an external audit of the city budget.
Austin City Clerk Erika Brady certified a petition on June 22 from Save Austin Now, a local political action committee, with over 20,000 signatures validated. The amendment will now be on the midterm election ballot Nov. 3, 2026.
The petition called for “regular, outside, performance audits of the entire City of Austin budget,” according to a June 2 news release regarding the initial submission of the petition. Save Austin Now said they want a review of utilities, vendors and the entire city budget.
“Austin taxpayers do not currently trust our city leaders when it comes to the city budget and city spending,” said Matt Mackowiak, Save Austin Now co-chair, in the news release.
An external audit conducted in Houston in 2025 identified over $120 million in possible savings and inspired the structuring of the amendment, according to the news release. If this amendment passes, it will be the first of its kind in Austin. The audit will also prevent tax rate increases like 2025’s failed Proposition Q measure, which sought to increase property taxes, unless an audit has recently been conducted.
“City Hall must show its work before asking voters for more money,” Save Austin Now’s website reads.
If the city charter amendment does have a majority of eligible voters agreeing, then it will pass, according to the Texas Constitution.
“The more than 20,000 Austin residents who signed our petition only want transparency, accountability and efficient spending,” Mackowiak said in the release. “We appreciate the work of the City Clerk’s office in certifying our petitions in 20 days. The campaign phase begins now. If Austinites want to see their tax dollars spent wisely and efficiently, then we must pass this outside audit charter amendment.”