Government
BY PARKS KUGLE
San Antonio City Council adopts $4 billion budget On Sept. 18, the San Antonio City Council unan- imously approved a $4.04 billion total budget for fiscal year 2025-26, representing a 2.2% increase from FY 2024-25. The overview On top of approving the FY 2025-26 budget, City Council also set the tax rate; amended prior appropriations and appropriated funds for requirements in city projects and departments; amended existing fees within the general fund and certain restricted funds; and approved projects in a six-year capital improvements program. Key investments within the budget include: • $423,000 for easy access homeless shelter construction • $17 million for sidewalks • $2 million for street lights • $122.4 million for street maintenance/repair • $30.4 million for affordable housing The budget also addresses projected shortfalls of $21 million for FY 2025-26 and $52 million for FY 2026-27, totaling approximately $73 million . The shortfall is partly due to the city’s revenue growing slower than expenses and to property tax values decreasing by 1% , which is the first time the base values have decreased since the 2008-09 recession. After receiving feedback from city council members during the workshop process, the budget will also add a total of 40 additional patrol officers, which includes 25 officers from the original proposed budget and 15 extra officers.
San Antonio amends code of conduct On Sept. 18, the San Antonio City Council voted to amend the City Council code of conduct to discourage council members from signing nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, in their official capacity. Long story short According to city documents, the amended language in the code of conduct requires the city attorney to provide yearly guidance to City Council on the legal risks associated with NDAs. “The [administrative directive] governs the city, city staff, and the update to the code of conduct ensures that we, all on the dais, understand our responsibilities,” Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said.
Budget allocations Restricted funds are money received from an external entity that must be used for a specific purpose.
General fund $1.7B Restricted funds $1.2B
Total: $4B
Capital budget $1.1B
*DUE TO ROUNDING THE NUMBERS, THE TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET APPEARS SMALLER THAN THE APPROVED BUDGET.
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The city of San Antonio FY 2025-26 tax rates
Rate (per $100 valuation)
Type
Debt service tax rate (interest and sinking tax rate)
$0.21150
Code of conduct changes
Maintenance and operations tax rate
$0.33009
Strongly discourages council members from signing NDAs
Establishes a threshold that economic deals must be at least $50 million to potentially require an NDA Ensures council members can request updates on NDA- covered activities Requires council members to inform the city attorney if they are asked to sign NDAs in their professional capacities
$0.54159
Total tax rate
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
District 8 Council member Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, Spears and Whyte praised city staff’s diligence and hard work during the budget process. “Every decision required us to weigh our resources against our responsibilities, and at times, that meant making tough choices that aren’t taken lightly,” Gonzalez said.
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Hollywood Park City Council increases tax rate for FY 2025-26 by 4.55%
increased tax rate will cost the average home- owner about $80-$100 more per year, according to city staff. Place 4 council member Wendy Gonzalez said the increased tax rate is needed. “When the property values are flat and we’re bringing in a lower rate than we used to, we can’t provide the same services when everything out there costs more, and that’s the reality,” Gonzalez said.
During its Sept.16 meeting, the Hollywood Park City Council unanimously voted to adopt the increased tax rate of $0.47805 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2025-26. The gist The new tax rate represents a 4.55% increase from last year’s budget, which will net approxi- mately $166,083 in property tax revenue. Multiple city council members noted that the increase is primarily due to rising labor costs. The
“Our city has reached a peak with all the services that we’re providing, and that makes it tricky. When that happens,
there’s three ways that we can fix it, and that is raising taxes, giving up amenities or minimizing our expenses.” GLENNA PEARCE, HOLLYWOOD
PARK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE 5
7
NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION
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