San Antonio City Council Budget Session on Employee Compensation and Department Budgets

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 2:01 PM, the San Antonio City Council held a budget session focused on employee compensation, benefits, and departmental budgets for the fiscal year 2026. The meeting covered presentations from Human Resources (Renée Frida) and the Budget Office (Freddy Martínez), followed by extensive council discussion and questions. The session concluded at 4:20 PM with a transition to executive session.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were identified in the transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments from residents or external stakeholders were recorded during this session.

Discussion Items

Employee Compensation and Benefits

• Human Resources Director Renée Frida presented the proposed budget for employee compensation, including a $252 million total for HR and benefits (94% for employee benefit fund, 6% for operations). The city has 13,723 authorized positions (9,089 full-time civilian, 400 part-time).
• Three compensation options were presented:
  • Option 1: 2% across-the-board increase, costing $13 million across all funds.
  • Option 2: 3% across-the-board increase, costing $19 million ($6.3 million from general fund).
  • Option 3: 2% plus a $750 base increase (with additional 4% for those earning under $75,000), maintaining compression adjustments.
• An additional 8% increase for current police and 4% effective April 2026 for San Antonio police were noted.
• Average compensation: civilians $66,887 base ($91,918 with benefits); police $80,696 base ($168,380 with benefits); fire $72,936 base.
• The city spends $0.39 per dollar on benefits for civilians and $0.62 for police.
• Council members expressed strong support for Option 2 (2% + $750), citing the need to retain employees and address cost-of-living concerns. Several councilmembers (Galván, Villagrán, Castillo, Munguía, Aldrete Gavito, etc.) voiced backing for this option.
• Discussion on wage compression: HR explained that compression adjustments were made over the past three years to differentiate pay for experience, but ongoing compression issues remain, especially for entry-level workers.
• Council members requested additional data on compensation by department and for those earning under $75,000.

Department Budget Presentations

• Budget Director Freddy Martínez covered 21 departments not previously reviewed, totaling $157.4 million (excluding internal service funds).
• Key departments included:
  • 311 Customer Service: $5.2 million, handling over 1 million calls annually, 96% response rate, 26-second wait time.
  • Center City Development & Operations (CCDO): $33.6 million for River Walk, Market Square, parking, and the Villita.
  • Historic Preservation: $5 million (22 positions) for building and heritage programs.
  • Integrated Community Safety Office (ICSO): Focus on violence reduction and community evaluations.
  • Resilience & Sustainability: $16.2 million for climate action, EV infrastructure, and energy efficiency.
  • City Attorney's Office: $22 million, 93 positions.
  • City Auditor: $3.5 million.
  • City Clerk & Elections: $2 million, including new municipal archives museum.
  • City Manager's Office: $10.2 million for communications and intergovernmental relations.
  • Veterans & Military Affairs: Supported base retention and partnerships.
  • Budget Office: $3.7 million.
  • Equipment & Building Services: $121 million for fleet and facility maintenance ($5 million for police substation electric charging).
  • Access & Opportunity Compliance: $2.7 million (reduced by $500K due to two vacant positions).
  • Finance: $33.5 million (five positions eliminated).
  • Innovation Office: $1.5 million for business process improvements.
  • Information Technology Services: $94 million for cybersecurity, Microsoft licensing, and CAD system.
  • Risk Management: $32.7 million for worker's compensation and safety.
  • Non-Departmental: $27.7 million for tax collection, building maintenance, and transfers.

Specific Concerns Raised by Council

• Wage Compression: Multiple council members stressed the need to address compression to retain experienced workers.
• Mayor's Communications Consultant: Councilmember White questioned a $10,000/month external consultant hired by the Mayor's office. The Mayor confirmed the contract is in line with previous mayors' support and was approved through proper procurement.
• Vacant Buildings: Council members highlighted the need for proactive enforcement and sufficient staffing in the Historic Preservation Office's vacant building program. The office noted they have maintained capacity despite a vacated position.
• Sustainability & Resilience: Concern that consolidation of the office might dilute resources; council urged continued funding for community resilience centers.
• Market Square Tenants: Councilmember Munguía raised rent abatements due to construction delays; the city confirmed an extension until the end of the month but noted limited funds.
• DART (Dispute Alternative Resolution) Program: Praised for addressing problem properties, but some council members noted delays and requested faster processes.
• American Gateways Funding: Councilmember White opposed using taxpayer dollars for legal services for immigrants, while others supported continuation.
• Veterans Benefits Outreach: Council encouraged HR to partner with the VA to help veterans access benefits and TRICARE.
• LGC (Local Government Code) Positions: Several council members called for a review of LGC classifications and a potential subcommittee to assess improvements.
• Technology & Innovation: Councilmember Spears and White expressed interest in a CRM system and an AI policy; the Innovation Office is working on a strategic plan.

Key Outcomes

• Support for Compensation Option 2: A majority of council members expressed support for the 2% across-the-board increase plus a $750 base increase (Option 2), with additional 4% for those earning under $75,000. Formal adoption will occur in later sessions.
• Direction to HR: To continue monitoring wage compression and provide data on vacancies and declinations by position.
• Request for Departmental Details: Council asked for more granular budget breakdowns, including by department for compensation levels, and follow-up on specific programs (e.g., Por Vida, sustainability, vacant buildings).
• Procurement Clarification: The Mayor confirmed that the communications consultant contract followed standard procedures and was not a campaign expenditure.
• Future Reviews: Council will revisit the LGC subcommittee, sustainability consolidation, and Market Square support in upcoming budget sessions.
• Transition to Executive Session: At 4:20 PM, the council moved to executive session under Chapter 551 to discuss economic development, real estate value, and pending litigation.