A Comparative Look at Cities' Ethics Programs from the City of Austin
Robert Wechsler
I recently discovered that, in May, the Austin's Office of the City
Auditor did an
extensive report on the city's ethics program, and compared it
with 16 comparable American cities (Arlington (TX), Dallas, El Paso,
Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Kansas City
(MO or KS?), Memphis, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Diego,
San Jose, and Seattle).
This report has lots of fascinating tables of comparative information, as well as a detailed look at Austin's unusual ethics program. The tables include:
Elements in Other Cities’ Ethics Structures (4 pages; Appendix G)
Detailed Cities’ Survey Responses (27 pages; Appendix I)
Ethics Activities Regulated
Activities in Which the Ethics Officer or Equivalent is Involved
The Reporting Structure of the Ethics Officer or Equivalent
Ethics Activities Where the Ethics Commission/Committee or Similar Body is Involved
Authority of the Ethics Commission
Ethics Activities of the City Auditor
Ethics Activities of the Human Resources Departments
Because the City Auditor is part of Austin's ethics program, it did not do a critical appraisal, but the descriptive information is valuable. Anyone who has seen any other such reports, please send me the links, so I can share the information with the local government ethics community.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
---
This report has lots of fascinating tables of comparative information, as well as a detailed look at Austin's unusual ethics program. The tables include:
Elements in Other Cities’ Ethics Structures (4 pages; Appendix G)
Detailed Cities’ Survey Responses (27 pages; Appendix I)
Ethics Activities Regulated
Activities in Which the Ethics Officer or Equivalent is Involved
The Reporting Structure of the Ethics Officer or Equivalent
Ethics Activities Where the Ethics Commission/Committee or Similar Body is Involved
Authority of the Ethics Commission
Ethics Activities of the City Auditor
Ethics Activities of the Human Resources Departments
Because the City Auditor is part of Austin's ethics program, it did not do a critical appraisal, but the descriptive information is valuable. Anyone who has seen any other such reports, please send me the links, so I can share the information with the local government ethics community.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
---