Austin, Texas
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Contents |
[edit] Website evaluation
This site was most recently evaluated on 15 Jan 2012. At the last rating of this site, the website was in "beta." Some links may be broken as a result.
[edit] The good
- The website for Austin, Tx has the names and contact information of all city council members and mayor are listed.[1][2]
- Administrative officials have information available. [3]
- The current budget is published. [4]
- City council meeting minutes, Agendas, and schedules[5] are published.
- The website has a procedure for requesting public records.[6]
- Names, contact information and responsibilities of the ethics review board members are published.[7]
- Campaign Finance Reports are published.[8]
- Audit information is available. [9]
- Contract information is available, [10] including a list of current contracts. [11]
- Lobbyists' names are published. [12]
- Zoning information[13] and building permits available.[14]
- Tax information is available. [15]
[edit] The bad
- The names of administrative officials for the department contact information is not provided.
- Costs associated with lobbyists and memberships to taxpayer-funded lobbying associations are not included.
[edit] Elected Officials
[edit] City Council
| Name | District |
|---|---|
| Chris Riley | Place 1 |
| Mike Martinez | Place 2 |
| Kathie Tovo | Place 3 |
| Laura Morrison | Place 4 |
| Bill Spelman | Place 5 |
| Sheryl Cole | Place 6 |
The Austin Bulldog cites that city council members violated the state public information act by turning over some, but not all, of their emails as requested, and have also failed to turn over emails, text messages and instant messages regarding public business that public employees sent on privately owned accounts and devices. In addition, turned-over emails cite that council members discussed using online chat messengers to communicate privately during open meetings. [16]
[edit] Mayor
The mayor of Austin is Lee Leffingwell [2]
[edit] Public employees
[edit] Emergency personnel
Sixteen police officers retired from the department last year, only to return as civilian workers. This allowed them to double dip and collect more then $100,000 in pensions and salary pay.[17]
[edit] Stimulus funds
Austin Energy received one of the worst performance grades for its weatherization program, which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.[18]
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article: Texas taxpayer-funded lobbying
Austin has reported $140,000 spent lobbying in 2011. [19]
Austin pays membership dues to the Texas Municipal League, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ City Council
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mayor
- ↑ Directory
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Agendas and Schedule
- ↑ Public Records
- ↑ Ethics Review Commission
- ↑ Campaign Finance Reports
- ↑ Audit reports
- ↑ Contracts
- ↑ Current Contracts
- ↑ Lobbyist Information
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Taxes
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, Austin City Council accused of covering up emails, Mar. 3, 2011
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, Double-dippers in Austin earn six figures in pay plus pension; in Houston, double-dippers staffing new Houston Inspector General's office, Feb. 1, 2011
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, Austin Energy among poorest performers in Texas' stimulus program to fix up low-income homes, Sept 8, 2010
- ↑ [1]
