Brewster McCracken issues statement on the City of Austin website contract

As a follow up to the earlier post on GeekAustin today: I received the following note from Brewster McCracken's office:

"Investing taxpayer funds for web operations only makes sense if the investment dramatically improves government efficiency and stimulates the local economy. I am not satisfied that the website redesign proposal before Council meets either objective. Therefore, I cannot support the current proposal to spend over $700,000 on a website redesign.

"My specific concerns include:

• a new website must make it possible for citizens to pay their bills online, including by credit card

• a new website must make it possible for citizens to obtain any service online for which they currently have to drive to a government office or conduct by telephone

• any new website proposal must be part of a comprehensive government efficiency improvement effort

• given Austin's significant local talent pool in website architecture and software, any new website solicitation must include aggressive outreach to local companies. If at all possible and financially feasible, we should tap local talent and support the local economy."