The Greater Austin Chamber Board of Directors voted to oppose Propositions 1 and 2 on the May ballot upholding the Chamber’s Policy Council’s recommendation. The Chamber’s Policy Council is in place to ensure government policies and decisions are conducive to a strong business climate and adequately support quality economic growth and community livability.

“These amendments, if approved by voters, will have dangerous effects on the quality of life in Austin,” remarked Chamber Chair Tim Crowley, President-Austin Community Banking Group, Frost Bank. “Not only will they severely limit the abilities of our City leaders to help grow our local economy, these amendments will be costly to implement and invade the privacy of any citizen who wishes to participate in civic affairs.”

Proposition 1 would require the City of Austin to carry out all of its business online in real-time. The City estimates that the cost to develop the necessary technological infrastructure in support of this amendment would be $36 million in implementation expenses and $12 million in ongoing operational expenses. City leaders have commented that these costs would almost certainly lead to a tax increase.

Proposition 2 would limit the abilities of the City of Austin and private property owners to improve infrastructure in and around southwest Austin. If adopted, the City would also be forbidden from participating in investment agreements to construct affordable housing and solar energy rebates for new and existing developments in southwest Austin.

The Chamber Board took no action on the other five Charter amendment propositions due to their lack of significant impact on the business community. Early voting runs from Monday, May 1, through Tuesday, May 9, and Election Day is on Saturday, May 13.