Austin city manager prioritizes police chief hiring, new police contract

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said police leadership and police job stability are at the top of his priorities as he takes over a leadership role with the city.

Broadnax announced his first set of priorities in a press release Monday — his first official day on the job.

Austin’s new city manager will make roughly $470K, according to documents

Broadnax said his priorities include hiring a permanent police chief and finalizing a new contract between the City and the Austin Police Association. He added other priorities include “emergency preparedness, affordable housing and addressing homelessness,” the release said.

In a Q&A session with the media before his hiring, Broadnax said he wanted the hiring process for the police chief open to the public.

Broadnax, who spent seven years as the city manager of Dallas, was selected as Austin’s next city manager in March. Broadnax previously served as the city manager in Tacoma, Washington.

Broadnax will now oversee Austin’s $5.5 billion budget and draft future city budgets for approval by Austin’s mayor and city council.

“As the City continues its rapid growth, we must grow in our unique roles as devoted City employees, boldly responding to challenges with creativity and compassion,” Broadnax said in the release.

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