Jeffrey Austin
MN · Austin City Council Member, At-Large
Austin City Council member since 2006, now holding the at-large seat. He says he knows what it takes to run a business and wants more housing and more businesses to grow the city's tax base.
Where Jeffrey Austin stands, based on their records
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (3 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (13 support · 5 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 3 oppose
Voted against an ordinance banning smoking and e-cigarette use in public places; it passed 4–3. He also moved a resolution opposing state limits on city tax levies, which passed 7–0.
March 16, 2015Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a one-year ban on using e-cigarettes in public places. The ban passed 4–3.
April 7, 2014Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against an ordinance banning new outdoor solid-fuel heating appliances. The 4–3 vote fell short of the unanimous vote needed at first reading.
November 16, 2009Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 13 support · 5 oppose
Voted against the 2025 proposed tax levy of $9,800,000. It passed 4–3, with the mayor breaking the tie.
September 16, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against the 2024 proposed tax levy of $8,752,000, a 5.66% increase. It passed 4–3.
September 18, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against seeking a grant for three firefighters that committed the city to fund them afterward. It passed 4–2.
September 5, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against spending up to $19,500 to remodel the council chambers. It passed 5–1.
November 15, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against $475,000 in city funding for KSMQ's downtown TV station project. It passed 6–1.
January 22, 2019Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against offering $7,000 in city money toward drainage tile lines for residents north of town. It passed 6–1.
January 2, 2018Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a resolution backing state bonding for KSMQ public TV. He opposed the city providing a site. It passed 5–2.
November 6, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against giving $82,700 to the Austin Area Commission for the Arts to buy the Park and Rec office. He said the group should buy it itself. It passed 5–1.
January 17, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved a 9% city tax levy increase for 2017, for a total levy of $5,341,000. The motion carried.
September 6, 2016Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved a conditional agreement to buy the old power plant site from Austin Utilities. The council approved it 5–2.
June 6, 2016Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved the 2014 tax levy of $4,120,000, about 1% below 2013, and the $30.8 million budget. Both passed 7–0.
December 16, 2013Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against adding a 20-hour zoning position to the 2013 budget. It passed 5–2.
August 20, 2012Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Proposed dropping the city's Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities membership to lower the 2012 levy; it got no second. He voted against a $3,975,000 levy option, which failed 2–3.
September 6, 2011Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved adoption of the city's $3.9 million property tax levy for 2010. The council approved it 5–2.
December 7, 2009Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted to keep a new city engineering position, with a $35,000 tax levy increase, in the 2009 budget. A motion to remove it failed 3–3.
November 17, 2008Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a 4% yearly raise for the city's Director of Administrative Services. The recommendation passed 4–3.
June 16, 2008Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Seconded a motion recommending a $3,460,000 city property tax levy for 2008, a 7.04% increase. The motion passed 6–0.
December 4, 2007Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a job offer for one full-time firefighter. The offer passed 5–2.
April 2, 2007Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 oppose
Voted against a job offer for one full-time firefighter. The offer passed 5–2.
April 2, 2007Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 oppose
Cast the lone vote against offering $7,000 in city money toward drainage tile lines for residents north of town. It passed 6–1.
January 2, 2018Opposes Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Track record — General
General · 20 records
Moved to approve an agreement selling five acres of Port Authority land for development. It passed 5–1.
April 22, 2026
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a 2026 budget plan that used employee attrition and early separation. It passed 5–2.
December 1, 2025
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against the point-of-sale sewer and sump pump inspection ordinance for home sales. It passed 5–1.
July 21, 2025
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against Austin's cannabis ordinance. It passed 6–1.
January 21, 2025
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Seconded a motion to repeal MetroNet's cable franchise ordinance. It failed 2–5.
July 15, 2024
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against raising 2022 street assessment rates by 7%. The recommendation passed 4–2.
January 3, 2022
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against moving forward with Stencil's development proposal for the YMCA site. It passed 4–3, with the mayor breaking the tie.
April 19, 2021
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Elected vice president of the Austin Port Authority. The board approved its officers 5–0.
January 27, 2021
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Cast the lone vote against banning summer ice at Riverside Arena during COVID-19. The ban passed 6–1.
June 15, 2020
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved to rezone 1500 7th Avenue NW for commercial use against the Planning Commission's advice, saying he did not want it left empty. It passed 5–2.
November 4, 2019
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a tax break for a downtown hotel, noting other hotel projects had none. It passed 4–2.
August 19, 2019
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved adoption of Austin's rental housing ordinance, which requires rental inspections every two years. It passed 7–0.
May 7, 2018
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against letting stores other than liquor stores sell 3.2 beer. The ordinance failed 3–4.
October 17, 2016
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against a rental housing ordinance requiring landlords to register units every three years; it passed 4–3 on the mayor's tie-break. He also cast the lone vote against looser sidewalk café rules.
December 15, 2014
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against the employment contract for new City Administrator Craig Clark. It passed 4–3, with the mayor breaking the tie.
October 20, 2014
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against ordering a dog declared dangerous to be destroyed. The order passed 4–2.
April 2, 2012
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against new fire department fees for car crash rescues and fireworks. He warned against charging extra for services taxes already fund. The fees passed 4–3.
November 7, 2011
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Opposed requiring rental property registration with an initial inspection in a council poll. Only two members supported it.
October 17, 2011
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Voted against letting the fire chief set firefighters' shift schedule, saying setting policy is the council's job. The motion failed 3–4.
May 16, 2011
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Moved a 60-day moratorium on wind generation towers. The council adopted the ordinance 7–0.
April 5, 2010
Source: ci.austin.mn.us
Past race Jeffrey Austin ran in:
- City Council Member At-Large · November 3, 2026 · Austin city, Minnesota · incumbent