San Antonio council adopts $4.4B budget and raises property tax rate

The San Antonio City Council on Sept. 17 approved the city's fiscal year 2027 consolidated operating and capital budgets and set a modest increase in the city's property tax rate.

City staff presented final amendments the night before the meeting, including roughly $4.5 million in two-year revenue increases and restorations to previously proposed cuts. Councilmember Villagran, who moved the main motion, framed the package as necessary to "protect our core services, invest in our neighborhoods, and reflect the collective priorities" of the city.

The council voted separately on the budget package (item 5) and the ratification ordinance (item 6); both motions carried. On the key tax ordinance (item 7), the council approved an ad valorem maintenance-and-operations rate of 35.138'¢ per $100 of taxable valuation, recorded in a voice vote as 7 yes, 4 no. The clerk announced the motion carried.

Mayor Ortiz Jones and multiple councilmembers emphasized that the changes preserve services city staff said would otherwise be cut. City Manager Eric Walsh and finance staff had told the council the package included restorations for programs ranging from nutrition sites and tuition reimbursement to increased capital project allocations. "Passing a balanced budget is one of the most important responsibilities we have as city council," Villagran told her colleagues during debate.

Councilmembers who opposed the increase urged further internal cuts and delayed votes to allow time for across-the-board reviews. A motion to continue items 5'10 to allow additional modeling of uniform cuts failed. After the votes, the council approved remaining budget housekeeping items, including the debt service rate, a fees ordinance, and carry-forward appropriations, and adjourned at about 1:00 p.m.