Taxpayers paying Ott's mortgage

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A city council request to pay two house payments for Austin City Manager Marc Ott is being withdrawn from this week's council agenda, according to Mayor Will Wynn's chief of staff. The Austin City Council was scheduled to vote this week on an extension to a $4,500 a month "temporary" housing allowance for the city manager, who has still yet to sell his house after moving from Ft. Worth. Ott has since purchased a home in the Circle C subdivision in Southwest Austin, valued at $448,983, according to Travis County Property Records.

However, the city manager has asked for the item's removal from the agenda. "It's being withdrawn," said Rich Bailey, Chief of Staff to Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "Marc just feels it's not the right time."

The city manager has asked departments to cut back on salaries and services due to a slumping economy. Bailey said the resolution this week would have corrected a human resources error. Ott's original housing allowance was rolled into his salary, resulting in only $2,900 worth of housing allowance after taxes, Bailey said.

The original resolution directed the city to pay Ott $4,500 a month until Dec. 18, 2008. The other stoppage would be until he bought a house in Austin and sold his house in Ft. Worth, whichever came first. It is unclear why his salary was combined with his housing allowance.

Ott is trying to sell his four bedroom, three bathroom home in Ft. Worth for $389,000.