San Antonio city staff are presenting a two‑year plan that could cut roughly $90 million from municipal services as the city works to close a projected $158 million deficit for fiscal year 2028. The proposal targets the Library System and Parks & Recreation departments, but council members have signaled support for preserving many of the affected jobs.
Library staffing reductions
The Library System is slated to eliminate 39 aide and circulation‑attendant positions in FY 2027, 22 of which are currently filled. The cuts would save just under $1 million per year. Library Director Sukrit Goswami told KSAT the city is “right‑sizing” staff levels as physical circulation drops and automation—such as auto‑renewals and self‑checkout—reduces the need for hands‑on handling.
“There’s not going to be any reduction in any program, not going to be reduction in service,” Goswami said, adding that displaced employees could be reassigned to other city jobs. Councilman Edward Mungia (District 4) noted that staff and community members have praised library workers for going “above and beyond” their roles, and he urged the council to consider how to retain that capacity.
Parks & Recreation budget adjustments
The Parks & Recreation department faces a longer list of General Fund reductions—nearly $3 million in FY 2027 and $5 million in FY 2028. Much of the proposed change is a reallocation of funds rather than outright cuts. For example, about $6 million in positions and costs would be shifted from the General Fund to the Parks Environmental Fund, financed in part by a 25‑cent increase to trash fees.
True cuts include a $200,000 reduction in the $1.2 million assistance to the San Antonio Botanical Garden and the elimination of several vacant positions and low‑attendance classes, according to Parks & Recreation Director Homer Garcia III. Garcia described the overall impact as “minimal.”
Across all sources of funding, Parks & Recreation would still operate with a proposed $120.4 million budget, $71.1 million of which comes from the General Fund. The Library System’s proposed budget totals $60.8 million, with $58.1 million from the General Fund.
Potential deeper cuts
Staff presented council members on August 19 with a scenario that would require an additional $75 million in cuts over two years if the city avoided any tax‑rate increases. Under that scenario, libraries could lose up to $10 million, potentially reducing hours and eliminating adult services such as job‑search assistance, resume workshops, and GED classes.
For Parks & Recreation, an extra $18 million in cuts could slash a range of programs, from centralized events to fitness, wellness, athletics, and tennis offerings. Garcia noted the department runs more than 6,400 fitness classes serving over 72,000 participants, underscoring the breadth of services at risk.
Council response and next steps
Following the August 19 briefing, city staff returned to the council on September 4 with a list of proposed amendments. The list did not include any additional cuts to parks or libraries, suggesting the deeper‑cut scenario may not gain traction.
The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to vote on a final budget on September 17. Council members will weigh the proposed staffing reductions, fee increases, and potential tax adjustments as they seek a balanced approach to the looming deficit.
What residents can expect
If the council adopts the current proposal, library patrons will likely see staffing changes but no immediate loss of programs, while park users may notice a shift in funding sources and modest reductions in certain classes. Residents concerned about service levels are encouraged to attend the September 17 budget meeting or contact their council representatives.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
