AUSTIN -- The fate of Austin's Proposition 1--and perhaps the future of ridesharing in the city--will be decided May 7. With the stakes so high, you can be sure big money is at play.

$8.1M Spent by Ride-Hailing Apps

One local group against Prop One has raised more than $100,000. But that's peanuts compared to the $8,098,471.93 Uber and Lyft have spent. Their PAC, Ridesharing Works for Austin, spent $2,554,950 for media buys in April. (Full disclosure: TWC News does not directly handle its media sales)

"The resources dedicated to educating voters between now and May 7 will reflect how committed our coalition is to protecting the livelihood of thousands of drivers in our community and access to a safe, reliable means of transportation in Austin," PAC spokesman Travis Considine said. "The ballot language crafted by the city council is incredibly misleading, which is why we are determined to help voters understand what's really at stake with Proposition 1."

If Proposition 1 passes, it would override city rules that require rideshare drivers undergo fingerprint background checks--a measure the companies call unnecessary.

The campaign hired Huey Rey Fischer to target young voters. He received $12,000 on April 5, according to campaign finance reports. That was four weeks after he came in third place in the Democratic race for Texas House District 49.

The campaign also hired former Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell to recruit support. He received $25,000 on April 11.

No individuals have contributed to Ridesharing Works for Austin PAC.

Campaign Against Prop. 1 Surpasses $100,000

More than 400 people and groups have given to efforts against the ballot measure. Austin Police Association gave a thousand dollars toward defeating Prop 1.

"Uber complains fingerprint background checks are too much of a burden, yet they comply with the regulations right down Highway 290," APA President Ken Casaday said in an April 12 rally.

Forty people and groups, listed below, have given at least $500 to anti-proposition 1 efforts.

However, they're competing with a war chest that is 80 times larger and likely to grow as Election Day nears.

"The $8.1 million contributed to the campaign so far, with Uber and Lyft as the sole contributors, is 5 times more than has ever been spent by a campaign on an election in Austin," PAC Spokeswoman Laura Morrison said. "There are U.S. Senators and Governors that have not had to spend this much to win a statewide election."