San Antonio’s City Council is poised for a decisive showdown next week as it weighs a 3.9% property‑tax increase – the first citywide hike in more than three decades – needed to close a projected $158 million deficit over the next two years.
Current voting dynamics
Budget Director Freddie Martinez explained that any tax increase requires a 60% supermajority. So far, three council members have publicly refused to support the measure, voting against a procedural motion on Aug. 13 that would have let staff explore the option. Their opposition means the council needs at least one more dissenting vote to block the hike.
“Without the seven votes, the property tax would stay at the current rate,” Martinez said, noting that a fourth opponent would keep the tax at its present level and force the council to revisit the budget.
Proposed budget package
In August, staff presented a formal budget that combined $90 million in spending cuts, $30 million from increased fees, and the 3.9% tax increase. The proposal flagged severe cuts to summer youth programs, pavement markings, home‑repair assistance and other services. Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito (D‑7), a vocal critic of the tax hike, accused staff of deliberately pitting council members against each other to derail the plan.
Mayor’s alternative ideas
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has been urging the council to explore other savings. She suggested re‑allocating funds from a new $1.3 billion Spurs arena and ending a large workforce‑development program from the Nirenberg era. Her latest budget tweaks would restore library funding by trimming Fiesta event costs, preserve a maternal‑health program by canceling a $2 million contribution to UT‑SA’s School of Public Health, and shift some public‑art money to senior‑center programs.
“I have always said that raising taxes is my last resort. This is my last resort. We’ve got to cut the fat,” Jones told residents at the Northeast Senior Center, emphasizing the need for judicious cuts before considering any tax increase.
Potential impact of a tax increase
City analysis shows that a property‑tax hike would affect wealthier neighborhoods more heavily, a factor that has swayed some progressive council members toward supporting the increase. However, Northside councilmembers Alderete Gavito, Marc Whyte (D‑10) and Misty Spears (D‑9) remain steadfast in their opposition.
If the council fails to secure the supermajority, the administration will have to revise the budget, likely deepening cuts to programs that serve families and seniors. City Manager Erik Walsh warned that staff have limited options for trimming the general‑fund budget, which covers day‑to‑day operations and many public‑facing services.
Next steps
The council has two budget work sessions left before the Sept. 17 vote. With the deadline approaching, both sides are scrambling to win over undecided members. The outcome will determine whether San Antonio proceeds with its first property‑tax increase in over 30 years or faces a more austere fiscal plan.
Residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming sessions and voice their concerns, as the decisions made will shape city services, from youth programs to senior‑center activities, for the next two years.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
