Latest Fact-Checks In City Budget

Clear
stated on September 22, 2015 a speech
Every general City of Milwaukee employee "pays toward his or her pension, but approximately 88 percent of our police officers and firefighters do not."  
Mostly True
September 30, 2015
Don Zimmerman
Don Zimmerman
stated on September 1, 2015 an Austin City Council meeting
Salaries of Austin residents who don't work for city government "have not been going up 3 percent a year for the last several years."
Mostly True
By W. Gardner Selby • September 25, 2015
Kenneth Block
Kenneth Block
stated on August 23, 2015 TV interview
"The cost of fire in Rhode Island is anywhere from 33 percent to 100 percent more expensive than anywhere else we could find."  
Half-True
By Mark Reynolds • September 20, 2015
Hillary Davis
Hillary Davis
stated on May 6, 2015 a hearing at the General Assembly
"The profit [from automated traffic enforcement cameras] is going to the private corporations, not to the city or state."  
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • June 14, 2015
Anonymous Activist
Anonymous Activist
stated on May 19, 2015 yard signs posted anonymously opposing a proposed office park redevelopment in Northwest Austin
"500 percent more traffic here?"
Mostly True
By W. Gardner Selby • June 9, 2015
Sharlene Leurig
Sharlene Leurig
stated on February 9, 2015 an Austin City Council workshop
"Austin is the only city in an arid landscape in the western United States dependent on a single source of water."
Half-True
By Andra Lim • May 18, 2015
Bob Buckhorn
Bob Buckhorn
stated on January 15, 2015 a campaign ad
Says he "balanced the budget without raising taxes."
Mostly False
By Richard Danielson • January 16, 2015
Bob Buckhorn
Bob Buckhorn
stated on January 15, 2015 a campaign ad
Says he "secured the highest possible bond rating" for the city of Tampa.
Half-True
By Richard Danielson • January 15, 2015
Steve Adler
Steve Adler
stated on November 19, 2014 a TWC News debate
"The city of San Antonio reuses almost 40 percent of its water. You know how much the city of Austin reuses? About 5 percent. And that's not right. We can do better."
Mostly False
By Dylan Baddour • December 11, 2014
Progress for Austin PAC
Progress for Austin PAC
stated on December 3, 2014 a mailer to voters
"Mike Martinez cut a deal with prosecutors to avoid facing possible jail time and stuck us with his $24,657.50 legal bill."
True
By W. Gardner Selby • December 10, 2014
Jim Skaggs
Jim Skaggs
stated on November 5, 2014 as quoted in a news story
Austin is "burdened by the fastest-growing tax increases of any major city in the nation."
False
By W. Gardner Selby • November 28, 2014
Lynda Rife
Lynda Rife
stated on November 4, 2014 as quoted in a news story
110 people a day move to Austin.
Mostly False
By W. Gardner Selby • November 14, 2014
Lloyd Doggett
Lloyd Doggett
stated on October 25, 2014 a Let's Go Austin mailer
"The Austin Tea Party and an ultra-conservative millionaire are behind the" campaign against the city’s light-rail proposition.
Half-True
By W. Gardner Selby • October 29, 2014
Mary Burke
Mary Burke
stated on October 17, 2014 a debate
Says Scott Walker cut funding to local governments in Wisconsin, contributing to the "second-largest increase in violent crime" in the Midwest.  
Half-True
October 23, 2014
American LeadHERship PAC
American LeadHERship PAC
stated on October 8, 2014 a TV commercial
"As mayor, [Allan Fung] raised taxes three times."
Mostly True
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • October 14, 2014
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
stated on September 25, 2014 a news conference
Data on violent crime shows Wisconsin "has become less safe than it was when Scott Walker took office." 
Mostly False
October 2, 2014
Jay Wiley
Jay Wiley
stated on September 15, 2014 an Austin City Council candidate forum
Austin has "over 1,000 city employees that make six-figure salaries."
Mostly True
By W. Gardner Selby • September 25, 2014
Vincent
Vincent "Buddy" Cianci
stated on September 10, 2014 a TV commercial
"When I left office, there was a $7-million surplus in Providence," but in 2008, the city had a $110-million deficit.
Half-True
By Alex Kuffner • September 21, 2014
Steve Adler
Steve Adler
stated on September 3, 2014 a campaign web page
"57% of the jobs created" in Austin "from 2009 to 2013 do not pay families a living wage."
Mostly True
By W. Gardner Selby • September 17, 2014
Vincent
Vincent "Buddy" Cianci
stated on September 10, 2014 a radio interview
Jorge Elorza "wants to impose a municipal income tax."
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr., Karen Lee Ziner • September 12, 2014
Previous Next