Placing the cost of growth on the backs of those who live here is not only unfair, but it is increasingly driving out the very people who built this city. During my service on City Council, I worked with the community toward greater transparency and accountability regarding the true costs of growth. Our successes included stopping public subsidies for utility extensions for new development. We also required an accounting of costs for potential economic incentive agreements (which still needs improvement) and mandated a public process for the consideration and approval of such agreements, where before there had been none. As mayor, I will continue my commitment to Austin residents and taxpayers to ensure that the public is not footing the bill for for-profit ventures, including the cost of growth.

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