San Antonio – Bexar County commissioners voted Tuesday, 3‑2, to adopt a leaner $2.6 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The plan trims $200 million from last year’s spending and leaves the county’s property‑tax rate unchanged at just under 30 cents per $100 of assessed value, a rate that has been steady for three decades.
How the budget balances
To close the gap, commissioners tapped $68 million in surplus funds, froze cost‑of‑living adjustments for employees, and placed a hold on new capital projects. The budget also omits funding for 42 county positions that were originally created with federal COVID‑relief dollars under the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). Those jobs will not be funded once the ARPA money runs out, though 49 ARPA‑backed positions will continue.
Commissioners’ debate
Commissioners described the discussions as “tense at times,” reflecting differing views on how best to address a $145 million deficit caused by lower property‑tax revenues, increased exemptions, and a slowdown in new home and business construction. Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody argued that the cuts did not go deep enough and voted against the plan. Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert said the budget would have benefited from more analysis by the budget office.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebecca Clay‑Flores called the budget balanced, while Moody pointed to the $68 million surplus used to achieve that balance. County Judge Peter Sakai defended the county’s fiscal health, stating, “This county at this time, regardless of the comments made on this dais, this county is on solid foundational ground.”
Future tax concerns
Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez warned that declining property‑tax revenue could force voters to consider a tax‑rate increase in 2027 to fund growing infrastructure and flood‑control needs. “The infrastructure needs, the flood control needs are growing in a growing community,” he said.
The annual property‑tax bill for a median‑priced home valued at $315,000 will be $945, not including school‑district taxes, which make up the bulk of the total bill mailed to homeowners.
County manager’s retirement
County Manager David Smith, a 15‑year veteran who began as a budget intern in 1997, called this the toughest budget he has ever assembled, citing reduced property‑tax revenue and the lingering effects of the housing crash that sparked the Great Recession. Smith announced his retirement effective Dec. 31 and cautioned future commissioners about the “unprecedented demands” for road, subdivision, and flood‑control maintenance in rapidly expanding unincorporated areas.
He suggested that commissioners begin early conversations with constituents about the potential need for a future property‑tax hike, noting that many local cities and governments are already raising rates to meet infrastructure costs.
What’s next
The adopted budget ensures that essential services, including public safety, remain fully funded. County officials say the use of surplus funds and the disciplined approach to spending will keep Bexar County on a stable fiscal footing while they monitor revenue trends and prepare for the eventual end of ARPA funding.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
