CITY & COUNTY
News from Hollywood Park, San Antonio & Shavano Park
COMPILED BY EDMOND ORTIZ
Bexar County Commissioners Court meets April 4 and 18 at 9 a.m. at the Bexar County Courthouse, MEETINGS WE COVER 100 Dolorosa St., Ste. 2.01, San Antonio. 210-335-2011. www.bexar.org Hollywood Park City Council meets April 18 at 6 p.m. at 2 Mecca Drive, Hollywood Park. 210-494-2023. www.hollywoodpark-tx.gov San Antonio City Council meets March 30, and April 6 and 13 at 9 a.m. at 114 W. Commerce St., San Antonio. 210-207-7040. www.sanantonio.gov Shavano Park City Council meets March 27 at 6:30 p.m. at 900 Saddletree Court, Shavano HIGHLIGHTS HOLLYWOOD PARK City Council allocated up to $26,000 to hire consulting engineers to examine surface conditions of all roads and help form the basis of a long-term street repair program on Feb. 21. Council Member Chester Drash said engineers will rank, categorize and prioritize streets.
San Antonio, Hollywood Park to vote May 6 on council members SAN ANTONIO AND HOLLY-
Hollywood Park approves $15K increase of senior tax exemption HOLLYWOOD PARK City Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 21 to raise the city’s property tax exemption for homeowners age 65 and older from $5,000 to $20,000. Local officials said eligible Hollywood Park residents must contact the Bexar County Appraisal District and request the over-age 65 exemption on their annual assessed property value, which is provided by BCAD. City Treasurer Fred Timmons said a senior tax exemption would affect slightly more than 550 Holly- wood Park households where a property owner is age 65 and over. Some city leaders voiced concern that, regardless of the amount, a significantly higher tax exemption could hurt long-range budgeting for basic services. With the tax exemption increase, the city estimates a decrease of $51,249 in property tax revenue projected in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget, which begins Oct. 1. Resident Shannon Sims, who previously voiced support for raising the exemption, said before the vote she wants the city to view a tax exemption as not just a tax savings for some people or a tax burden shifting, but instead as an opportunity for city staff to find more efficiencies in Hollywood Park’s annual budget. “I ask you to take everything into account, and see if there’s room in the budget to take the tax exemption up to $25,000 or at least some other step,” Sims said.
SHAVANO PARK City Council on Feb. 27 approved hiring incentives, which Fire Chief Darrell Dover said could help to increase fire depart- ment recruitment and retention. Dover said his department has always had one to three openings for certified firefighter-paramedics since August 2021. With few applicants for the posi- tion, the department has resorted to hiring certified paramedics and then sending the paramedic to the fire academy for additional training, Dover said. Under the incentive, newly hired certified firefighter-paramedics will receive $5,000 with a three-year contract stipulating reimbursement to the city if that person leaves within three years, Dover said. The $5,000 will be paid out upon completion of field training and after 18 months of employment. Shavano Park offers hiring incentives for fire department jobs
IMPORTANT DATES
COMPARING EXEMPTIONS North San Antonio-area residents may opt into one or more available forms of property tax relief, depending on where they live. Here is how Hollywood Park compares.
April 6 Last day to register to vote or change address
dishwasher Christopher Longoria, business owner Ray Basaldua, house- wife Diana Uriegas, U.S. Navy veteran Michael Idrogo, retired teacher Gary Allen, construction professional Chris- topher Schuchardt, retiree Michael Samaniego and self-employed worker Armando Dominguez. District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez is being challenged by film pro- duction professional Cesario Garcia. District 9 Council Member John Courage, in his final campaign, is facing opposition from maintenance technician David Lara, business owners Jarrett Lipman and Domi- nique Liu. Seven residents are vying to succeed District 10 Council Member Clayton Perry, who announced his plan to not seek re-election amid a drunk driving investigation. Retiree Joel Solis, property manager Margaret Sherwood, North East ISD educator Richard Otley,
April 24 Early voting -May 2
WOOD PARK May 6 elections will include one contested City Council race in Hollywood Park, and 23 San Antonians vying for mayor or one of three north side council seats. Those who filed for May 6 elec- tions applied for a ballot spot by the state-mandated Feb. 18 deadline. In Hollywood Park, former council candidate Dale Randol and Shea Johnson, a Hollywood Park Economic Development Corp. board member, filed for the Place 3 seat. Current Council Member Michael Voorhies opted against a re-election bid. Place 1 Council Member Chester Drash is unopposed in running for a full term. Place 5 Council Member Glenna Pearce drew no opposition for a second term. In San Antonio, Mayor Ron Niren- berg, seeking a fourth and final two- year term, will face opposition from
Disabled persons exemption
65-over exemption
Homestead exemption
April 25 Last day to apply for ballot by mail
Bexar County
$50,000
20% $5,000
May 6 Election Day. Local
X
X
Hollywood Park $20,000
governments receive early voting ballots by mail
Hill Country Village
$50,000
20% $50,000
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
X
X
North East ISD $13,330
administrator Robert Flores, business attorney and zoning commissioner Marc Whyte, social advertising profes- sional Madison Gutierrez, and Bryan Martin will be on the ballot. San Antonio voters will also consider a justice charter, a series of public safety-related proposals, including decriminalizing mari- juana possession and abortion, and prohibiting police chokeholds and no-knock warrants.
X
X
Northside ISD
$13,330
San Antonio
$85,000
10% $85,000
X
X
Shavano Park
$5,000
Residents can call the Bexar County Appraisal District at 210-224-2432 or visit www.bcad.org/ index.php/taxpayer-resources for more information.
Park. 210-493-3478. www.shavanopark.org
SOURCE: BEXAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
STONE OAK 23026 US Hwy 281 N (210) 497-1322 DE ZAVALA 5219 De Zavala Rd (210) 561-0900
VINEYARD 1309 N Loop 1604 W (210) 408-8206
RECTOR 819 E Rector Dr (210) 340-2244
LEGACY 2003 N Loop 1604 E (210) 494-8600
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