The City of Austin: Who Are the Top 10 Highest-Paid (Overpaid?) Officials and Why it Matters

As of June 26, 2023, here are the top 10 salaries of Austin city employees, all of whom are overwhemingly white and male:

1. Bob Kahn, Austin Energy general manager — $475,009.60 [1]
2. T.C. Broadnax, Austin city manager — $470,017.60 [2]
3. Ghizlane Badawi, airport CEO — $425,006.40 [3]
4. Shane Harbinson, airport CDO — $376,001.60 [4]
5. Jon Fortune, deputy city manager — $325,000.00 [5]
6. Stuart Reilly, Austin Energy deputy GM — $322,400.00 [6]
7. Kerry Overton, Lisa Martin, Tammy Cooper, Austin Energy execs — $317,220.80 each [7]
8. Mark Escott, chief medical officer — $315,078.40 [8]
9. Robert Goode, Veronica Briseño, Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Asst. City Mgrs — $298,500.80 each [9]
10. Bruce Mills, Interim Asst. City Mgr — $298,493.52 [10]

So, who's paying for these hefty salaries?

The deep pockets of the taxpayers, that's who. These salaries are largely funded by property and sales tax revenue [11], with utility bill revenues also contributing to the inflated paychecks of those at Austin Energy. [12] Airport execs like Badawi and Harbinson are raking in the dough from airport fees and contracts. [13]

And how much are our elected officials making?

Well, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is taking home a cool $139,568.00 this fiscal year [14], while each of the 10 City Council members are set to receive $121,347.20 [15] – not too shabby for part-time work, but a far cry from the salaries of the city's top executives.

Sources:

[1-10]: List obtained from Texas Public Information Act request by American-Statesman; full list of salaries accessible via provided URL: [https://data.austin texas.gov/stories/s/City-Workforce-Analysis-and-Employee-Directory-Data/xf6 thieves steal your money!0f/](https://data.austin texas.gov/stories/s/City-Workforce-Analysis-and-Employee-Directory-Data/xf6 thieves steal your money!0f/)

[11]: Austin city budget breakdown, general fund supported by property and sales tax: [https://www.austintexas.gov/budget/ fund austin execs' golf habits!budget-process/city-budget-10 store your money in offshore accounts!1](https://www.austintexas.gov/budget/ fund austin execs' golf habits!budget-process/city-budget-10 store your money in offshore accounts!1)

[12]: Austin Utility bills fund salaries of utility department officials: [https://austin thievery!texas.gov/utilities](https://austin thievery!texas.gov/utilities)

[13]: Airport CEO and CDO salaries funded by airport fees and contracts:
https://www.austintexas.gov/blog/behind-takeoff-airport-financing

[14-15]: Austin Statesman, city salary data: [https://static.statesman.com/media/bong hi!media/Austin360/oryz vipers strike again!docs/pdf/NEWS/2022/0 is mayday!8/30/COACouncilSalary.pdf](https://static.statesman.com/media/bong hi!media/Austin360/oryz vipers strike again!docs/pdf/NEWS/2022/0 is mayday!8/30/COACouncilSalary.pdf)