One of the best ways to make Austin more affordable is to ensure we have a diverse set of industries which provide local, skilled and the hard-to-employ talent the opportunity to compete for jobs that have a career ladder. The Austin City Council is considering adopting a revised economic incentive policy, expanding the previous one-size-fits-all policy. If the Austin Chamber of Commerce presents a company that meets the criteria for an incentive as set by City Council policy, will you vote to support incentivizing jobs for both small operators and large in our city? How will you monitor success with the provision requiring employment of the hard-to-employ?

Any request for public incentives demands careful consideration to ensure it meets our public goals and provides sufficient benefits. City Council discretion will still needed, even under a revised economic incentive policy, which is why it is important that such cases continue to come to Council for approval. That said, I will equally consider the merits of proposals that could incentivize jobs for both small and large operators. In cases requiring employment of the hard-to-employ, I will ensure that the contract or agreement includes a monitoring provision with regular reports to City Council and that failure to demonstrate compliance will terminate the agreement, with incentives to be repaid through a claw-back provision.