Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Audit probes city consultant usage
Penalties increased for noisy vehicles A new ordinance was approved to combat excessively loud vehicles that have reportedly become a growing nuisance on Austin streets. What happened Drivers whose cars or motorcycles are unreasonably loud can now be cited after an initial warning is issued. Violations are Class C misdemeanors. Residents, law enforcement and city officials said the policy came together after extensive reports of disruptive noise and racing activity around neighborhoods. “This is a constant daily threat to our peace and safety, and a noise ordinance is written as a balanced, reasonable measure that empow- ers our officers to protect our community from clearly irresponsible conduct,” resident Lisa Capps told council.
Consultant spending Consulting services across city departments cost nearly $300 million in less than three years.
$120M $100M $80M $60M $40M $20M $0
$102.64M
$94.69M
$81.97M
A new city audit probed Austin’s frequent use of third-party contractors, including unclear justifi- cations and reporting on work that recently cost nearly $300 million in less than three years. “The city may not be able to show why consul- tant services were needed or how they were used,” Audit Manager Keith Salas said. The overview Contracting with consultants is common in Austin, with Salas noting that “virtually all” city departments are spending on third-party support. The March audit, based on a sample of recent contracts, found the city typically didn’t evaluate whether to complete work internally; often didn’t fully document deliverables or complete per- formance evaluations; and sometimes accepted inaccurate or incomplete follow-up information.
*CITY FISCAL YEARS RUN FROM OCTOBER-SEPTEMBER. FY 2024-25 DATA THROUGH JULY ONLY. SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT 2022-23 2023-24
2024-25*
The approach Salas said auditors determined the city’s finan- cial services office should set clearer guidance for departments to conduct needs assessments before seeking third-party help. They also proposed requiring performance evaluations for all contracts and better maintaining relevant documentation. The finance department agreed with the find- ings and suggested fixes, and plans to update its processes by October, according to the audit.
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