Austin City Council votes to fire city manager Spencer Kronk

Austin, Texas – Editor’s note: The above video was posted on February 10th, prior to the board’s final decision.

The Austin City Council on Wednesday voted to fire city manager Spencer Kronk following his response to a winter storm earlier this month. The council voted 10–1, with only Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1) voting against Kronk’s dismissal.

Kronk’s dismissal takes effect Thursday, February 16. He will receive an annual severance pay of $463,001.50 in accordance with the ordinance of the city where he was hired in 2018. Former city manager Jesús Garza will serve as acting city manager.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and three council members put Kronk’s severance payment equal to a year’s salary on Wednesday’s agenda. The council was to discuss a “transitional plan for an interim city manager”.

Last week, the council met in an executive session behind closed doors to discuss a matter relating to the assessment of Kronk’s position and employment. Watson, along with councilors Alison Alter (District 10), José “Chito” Vela (District 4), and Vanessa Fuentes (District 2), sponsored the emergency room.

When he initially announced that the council would evaluate Kronk’s occupancy, Watson said the city’s response to the winter storm was “unacceptable.”

“The management of this situation and the lack of clear, timely and accurate communication has left our community in the dark. This is unacceptable. The City of Austin can and will do better,” Watson said, adding, “While city council members answer to the people of Austin, the city manager answers to us.”

In December 2022, the board approved Kronk’s raise of nearly 11%, which increased his salary to $338,190.40. It was his second promotion since taking over as city manager.

KVUE advocates found that Kronk is the second highest paid city official behind Jackie Sargent, CEO of Austin Energy.

According to the city’s website, Austin operates under a “council-manager” system of government, under which the mayor and city council are responsible for all of the city’s legislative functions. They appoint a professional city manager who “acts much like a general manager in the private sector and who is charged with the legislative and political tasks of the city council.”

The city’s website lists the following responsibilities of the city manager:

• Prepare a $4.2 billion budget for board review and manage its adoption
• Managing a city workforce of over 14,000, including overseeing recruitment and hiring
• Direction of operations
• Recommending policies and programs to the city council and implementing council policy
• Leading key initiatives

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