AUSTIN, Texas – The new Austin city manager is starting his first day on the job after a long hunt to find a new city leader.

Spencer Cronk was voted into office by the City Council in December 2017. City leaders spent over a year looking for the right candidate to assume Austin’s most powerful seat.

Cronk will receive a base pay of $325,000 a year and an executive allowance of $7,200. He will also receive a monthly housing allowance of $4,500 for six months.

The city manager is responsible for overseeing all of the city departments and more than 17,000 employees. He will also be in charge of the city’s $3.9 billion budget.

Cronk has previously served as the Minneapolis city coordinator and for Minnesota’s Department of Administration.

“I’m humbled to be given the opportunity to lead such an outstanding organization and to serve a community with a strong culture that promotes inclusion, innovation and progressive ideas,” Cronk said.