Austin Water program manager used city credit card for ~$78,000 in payments tied to work on private land, city audit finds; manager disputes characterization
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An October 2025 City of Austin Auditor's Office investigative report found that Austin Water program manager Nico Hauwert used his city purchasing card to pay contractors roughly $78,000 between 2019 and 2023, including about $67,000 for work on private property in the Roy Creek and Little Bee Creek areas outside city control, and split some payments to avoid stricter procurement review. Hauwert, who resigned in July 2024, told the Statesman the spending was authorized and necessary for federal habitat-protection compliance, and said he was retaliated against after raising environmental-compliance concerns directly with the mayor's office.
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- Austin American-Statesman
City audit: Austin Water program manager misspent $78,000
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