AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Faced with a number of charter amendment proposals that would potentially reshape city government, Austin voters delivered a split decision on the measures Saturday.
Proposition F, which would enact a "strong mayor" form of government that would eliminate the City Manager's position and install the mayor as the chief executive of city government, was overwhelmingly rejected by voters with nearly 86% voting against the measure.
The proposal was one of five measures on the ballot that were driven by a petition effort led by Austinites for Progressive Reform.
Proposition G, a companion measure aimed at keeping 11 seats on the Austin City Council by adding an 11th council district, was also rejected, with more than 56% of voters casting ballots against the measure.
A third measure, Proposition H, which would establish a publicly funded campaign finance system nicknamed "Democracy Dollars", was also rejected by voters with 57% voting against. Under the proposal, each registered voter in the city would be given a $25 voucher to contribute to the mayoral candidate and city council candidate of their choice in each election cycle.
Two other measures backed by the group won approval from voters.
Proposition D, which voters approved with 66% of the vote, will move the city's mayoral elections to coincide with presidential election years. The next mayoral election, to be held in 2022, will be for a two-year transitional term, prior to the next presidential election in 2024.
Voters also approved Proposition E, which calls for the city to adopt "ranked choice voting" as an alternative to runoff elections, which supporters say are typically low-turnout and high-cost. Nearly 58% of voters cast ballots in favor of the measure. However, the measure won't take effect until changes are made to Texas state law.
Two other proposals on the ballot also won approval from voters. Proposition A, which came out of a petition drive led by the Austin Firefighters' Association, passed with more than 81% of the vote. It will require binding arbitration in contract negotiations between the city and the firefighters' union, if contract negotiations reach an impasse.
Proposition C, which was added to the ballot by District 4 council member Greg Casar, also won approval from voters with nearly 63% of the vote. It will transfer control of the Office of Police Oversight, and hiring and firing of the Director of Police Oversight, from the City Manager to directly under the City Council.
