BY PARKS KUGLE
A changing environment
Looking ahead
In the Nov. 5 election, San Antonians voted to pass several charter amendments related to council and the mayor’s term limits and salaries. The changes stemmed from findings from a Charter Review Commission established in 2023, according to past Community Impac t reporting. Under the newly passed proposition, San Antonio council members earn $70,200 annually compared to $45,722 previously. Additionally, it raised the mayor’s salary from $61,725 to $87,800. All annual future adjustments must correlate to the U.S. Housing and Urban Devel- opment-determined income limits for a San Antonio family of four at 80% and 100% of the area median income. Proposition F altered term limits from two- year terms with eight-year term limits to four- year terms and a term limit of eight concurrent years of service for both the City Council and mayor’s office.
As Nirenberg leaves office, he said that due to San Antonio’s growth, future mayors and City Council members need to balance multiple priorities. This includes balancing expansion with the city’s natural resources such as the Edwards Aquifer, maintaining investments in infrastructure and transportation needs like the public transit system, and continuing to develop the city. “We remain one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the next mayor and council will have to keep up with the record investments we’ve made in infrastructure to keep up with that growth that includes the maintenance and construction of roadways, sidewalk infrastructure, and other transportation needs,” Nirenberg said. Additionally, Nirenberg said future city governments need to continue downtown development projects, such as the Missions ballpark and the sports and entertainment district, which will strengthen San Antonio’s tourism efforts. “The next mayor and council will have to keep up with the record investments we’ve made in infrastructure to keep up with [the city’s] growth. RON NIRENBERG, SAN ANTONIO MAYOR
Compensation packages
According to past Community Impact reporting, San Antonio was one of the last major metropolitan cities to begin paying its mayor and council a full-time wage instead of a stipend.
Council member
Mayor
$70,200
San Antonio
$87,800
$116,688
Austin
$134,191
$62,983
Houston*
$236,189
$60,000
Dallas*
$80,000
SOURCES: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CITY OF AUSTIN, CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF DALLAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
*AS OF 2020
Marc Whyte District 10 Served: 2023-25
John Courage District 9 Served: 2017-25
Manny Pelaez District 8 Served: 2017-25
Marina Alderete Gavito District 7 Served: 2023-25
Melissa Cabello Havrda District 6 Served: 2019-25
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION
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