Months after the city of Austin initiated an auditing program that would regularly assess the city\u2019s spending, the Save Austin Now Political Action Committee wants voters to approve a separate plan to review finances. <\/p>\n
Austin City Clerk Erika Brady confirmed this week that a citizen-initiated petition to add a new section to the city charter requiring a recurring external audit of all city funds, departments and other assets can be placed on the ballot in November.<\/p>\n
Petitions like this must be signed by at least 20,000 registered Austin voters to be placed on the ballot. Earlier this month, the Save Austin Now PAC submitted more than 21,000 signatures.<\/p>\n
Save Austin Now co-chair Matt Mackowiak said the campaign phase begins now. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf Austinites want to see their tax dollars spent wisely and efficiently, then we must pass this outside audit charter amendment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ballot petition garnered a lot of attention as the city of Austin works to rebuild trust and ensure fiscal responsibility after the failure of Proposition Q<\/a>, the proposed tax hike on the ballot in November 2025 that would have generated more than $100 million in property tax revenue. <\/p>\n Mackowiak said voters made it clear last November that they were unhappy with the city’s spending habits and an audit would be a way to hold the Austin City Council accountable. <\/p>\n “They’re never going to be able to jam taxpayers in the same way. They’re going to have to complete an audit at least a year before calling for a tax rate election,” he said. “The days of looking at Austin taxpayers as a limitless piggybank are over.” <\/p>\n Competing audits <\/p>\n