City of Austin Announces Public Works LLC as the Recommended Awardee to Conduct Sweeping Efficiency Audit

The City of Austin announced today that Public Works LLC is the recommended awardee in the solicitation to conduct an independent comprehensive efficiency assessment of all City departments, with the final award subject to City Council approval. 

Public Works is considered a national leader in government efficiency reviews and has conducted numerous organizational evaluations of entire state governments, state agencies, and other entities including several of the largest city and county governments in the country. Their work includes efficiency assessments for the City of Chicago, Baltimore County, Broward County, Travis County, as well as six entire state governments and two U.S. territories.  

“Public Works is focused on finding meaningful and sustainable ways to make government work better,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “The professionals at Public Works understand that this assessment is more than an audit and performance review — it will be transformative and comprehensive, importantly, it will also be an ongoing independent examination on how Austin’s government can operate better.”  

In February 2026, Austin City Council approved an ordinance to initiate a program of recurring independent comprehensive efficiency assessments to the City of Austin’s operations, service delivery and resource utilization. The assessment — which will occur on a repeating schedule with at least three years between cycles — is designed to provide meaningful efficiency improvements that align with Austin’s values and is focused on delivering quality City services to all residents for the best value.  

An evaluation panel, which was comprised of staff from the Austin City Auditor’s Office, evaluated proposals from 25 firms to perform the work. Public Works scored highest based on several factors, including an exceptional understanding of the assessment’s needs and the unique challenges facing Austin. Their approach to assessing cross-departmental functions, such as contracting and technology practices, was outstanding according to the evaluation panel. Additionally, Public Works designed an approach that supports early identification of efficiency opportunities in highly visible service areas, reinforcing public confidence.   

In prior efficiency assessments, Public Works’ reviews have consistently identified annually recurring savings of at least 5% of operating budgets through structural realignment, process improvement, procurement reform and elimination of duplication. Their projections are consistently conservative and tied directly to operational feasibility. For instance, two states that evaluated results achieved by Public Works after the fact – West Virginia and Iowa – found that they had saved more money than the firm had projected. In Baltimore County, a jurisdiction roughly the size of Austin, Public Works identified savings of $750 million over five years. 

The contract is scheduled to go to the Austin City Council later this month for final approval.