Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Antonio Water System Budget and Tariff Increase Informational Session - June 10, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, June 10, 2026

BodySan Antonio, Texas

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, June 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:48:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:47

Bueno, buenas tardes, el tiempo is dos con three minutes ahora in Miércoles in the ciudad de San Antonio.

0:55

This session está empezando a todos, por favor, uh, el concejal Mick Rodriguez Villagrán, Concejal Monguilla, Concejal Castillo, Concejal Galván, Concejal Alderete Gabito, Concejal Mesa González, concejal Spears, concejal White y Mary Jones.

1:23

Este es una junta de un resumen informativo, donde se pidió que se hiciera un aumento que vamos a empezar la semana que entra.

1:35

Muchas gracias, Mayoral.

1:37

Um vamos a empezar a resumir para el plan and the requerido por este sistema de agua de San Antonio.

1:50

Y como usted está afectado, este el staff tiene recomendación, uh recommendations in question a cualquier presupuesto, in campus de uh tariffs, uh, el personal and dental of the tariffs.

2:20

So, we're el staff y estamos pediendo varios modifications proposed for the department of the await.

3:32

Y le quiero mencionar que le pusieron bastante tiempo y compromiso.

3:45

Y también tenemos algo pequeño, de nuestro departamento de finanzas, tenemos que tener opportunity to present those individuals, Jeff Cowen, que es el assistente financiero.

4:00

El tiene 25 años de experiencia, y esto ha es el hecho tiene experiencia 25 años experiencia y tenemos a Morris Hairs que tiene 21 años oficial.

4:21

Este equipo basicamente se ha desarrollado dentro del equipo de la ciudad.

4:31

The part of the Department of the Southern San Antonio para monitoring policy that impacted the ciudat and some responses to put in order the element of the quotas razonables and put it in connection in the application members of the revision comprensive that is what the equipped different articles.

6:10

In terms of historically, look at the term of this presupuesto operacional.

6:24

And we'll have to plan capital in the CIP and the program financier capital, and how we presupped this.

9:53

And this model, in this system, is satisfactory losses, and the gas of the operations, and mantenimiento, y después el mini balance, and all the most element of the ciud.

11:16

A cerca of 25 million dollars in gas de mantenimento.

11:24

Los demás were gastos para tener el programado capital de partes de San Antonio and uh funds restrictivos and impact.

11:49

Uh, can impact and determined the equipped in the effective queen in mano, and what is the most uh clave for the center quatro años.

12:15

In the 2024, the uh assumptions del modelo y those standing electronics in the manoeuvre.

12:32

Okay, significa is that in this caso los ganancias, but they serve that announcement, the servicio son one point cinco de la service of deuda y en cuanto a desempenho uno.

13:23

A los tiene una double A uno y S I P double A plus.

13:48

Inquanto a flujo de fundos, estamos hablando in la operation y el presupuesto de mantenimiento anda algunos detalles y más granular en cuanto a lo que estamos mostrando ahorita.

14:04

Lo que tenemos in el año 25 and 26, básicamente aumentando 5.9%, casi 14 millones.

14:18

Como se ve el presupuesto comparado con el año 2025, 2.1% de aumento, y también los materiales and el costumbre ha bajado.

14:33

Historicamente, historicamente, los O and aumentado para el año 2025 y el año 26 como 26 millones de dólares.

15:47

27.9 million de dollars.

16:23

Aumentar de 19 a 20 dollars los salarios de vida anda el costo por los servicios utilitarios and los impactos de inflation.

17:03

Based on this revision that mencionamos, we have dialogue muy profundo con SOS.

18:14

Then we have 48 personas que faltaban, tenían vacantes, and los 2010 puestos que se necesitaban para que se tengan responder a esas métricas que se están midiendo.

18:49

Estamos recomendando que se recomienda la elimination of the 48 puestos vacantes and los 37 puestos se aumentan.

19:00

Those of the areas that we have is los contratos de los proveedores de agua.

19:46

Hemos tenido diálogo in los últimos dos años en cuanto a la tarifa in los últimos 4 años.

20:05

Y se tiene 1.2 million de recomendación del CPS.

20:10

Nosotros no estamos los que estamos presupuestando los aumentos con CPS, por eso queremos borrarlo de aquí.

20:50

Para el año 2026 y 2027, el CIP is un cambio in el proceso cuando llega el 28 and the 29.2030.2 million for a plan de 5 años.

21:43

The mayor of the CIP tiene enfoque specifico para lo que es el agua potable andar 3.2 millions de dollars de programas.

21:57

Nuevamente, viendo de un angulo differente, el CIP, and when they have initiatives principales, arriba hacia abajo, los reemplazos de agua residuales principales ofrece la parte governamental y se ve que se ha estado puesto la meta in esas areas específicas.

26:26

In resumen, ya estamos casi finalizando en el lado izquierdo se tienen tres tablas diferentes.

26:33

La primera tabla is el plan original donde se está proponendo por SOS, basado en nuestra recommendación que estamos viendo la reduction de los años 2026, que sea 5.6% y en el año residencial por siete point nove percent para y el seis point nove por ciento.

27:00

In the 2027, 6.9%.

27:07

And we have discussions in the presentation that would have been opportunities in terms of the content legal, the increment of the prices.

27:40

But they have the opportunity to regress using the model of 2028 and 5.5% and 7% and the personal de la ciudad.

28:17

And this is because we have an increment of pressure, but it required an approval of the members of the Consejo.

28:48

And there are responsibility and projections of the other projections of it in adelanted.

29:59

And we have an increment of $4.47 of the plan ajusting $56 and $59.59.

30:15

And then a reduction of $660.

30:18

And so we are presupposed in the 5 minutes.

31:30

This is the process that we have to use the revision and I have a part of a year.

32:27

The Department of Agua opera in a project bastante complicated because it's been regularly in this.

33:41

You can mention that the obligation to have a just that presentation originally no exactly.

34:31

But for the conditions that we have had the away in the ultimate yeah, it's regardless, they don't have produced the away.

35:32

Okay, this is a big example.

36:19

It's the deal of senior ink and the ultimate is the position of the conclusion of the program AMI.

36:30

Explicame this ultimately.

36:34

Dentro del programma MI, but it's medidology.

36:52

We have to maintain it.

37:30

So we have an opportunity, because there are 44, 48 vacantes.

37:44

And the ultimate, as we have to go correctly, in the two years, there are one other 4% or 5% requered by the Department of Utilities Publicers or not as the session informante for the conservative or justification of the 7%.

38:10

Muchas of my colleagues can proportionate one commentary, concealer Spears.

38:28

Solamente, you may have to compromise.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████74%

Engineering And Infrastructure████7%

Procedural███5%

Fiscal Sustainability███5%

Community Engagement███5%

Personnel Matters█1%

Economic Development█1%

Workforce Development█1%

Affordable Housing█1%

Summary of Proceedings

San Antonio Water System Budget and Tariff Increase Informational Session - June 10, 2026

Staff from the San Antonio Water System (SOS), including Troy, Jeff Cowen (Assistant Finance Director with 25 years of experience), and Robert Puente (SOS President), presented a comprehensive review of the proposed operational budget, capital improvement plan (CIP), and tariff adjustments for the coming years. The session focused on the rationale for tariff increases, infrastructure investments, conservation programs, and customer assistance. Council members raised concerns about water main breaks, deferred maintenance, the Uplift low-income assistance program, and the impact on residents.

Discussion Items

Tariff Increase Proposal: Staff recommended a tariff increase of 5.9% for fiscal years 2025-26 (approximately $14 million), with a 2.1% increase for 2025 and additional increases for materials and costs. The presentation showed a proposed residential increase of 7.9% for 2026 and 6.9% for 2027, with a potential reduction in later years. Council members expressed a preference for lower increases, with Councilmember Villagrán stating comfort with a maximum of 7% for 2028-29 but urging SOS to aim for the lower end as soon as possible.
Personnel Realignment: Staff recommended the elimination of 48 vacant positions and the addition of 37 positions to improve responsiveness to service metrics. This was part of the operational budget to address historical staffing gaps and improve response times for water main breaks.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): The CIP for 2026-2027 includes $30.2 million for a five-year plan, with a focus on potable water infrastructure and $3.2 million for specific programs. Councilmember Alderete Gabito noted that currently only about 50% of deferred maintenance is funded and questioned plans for the remainder. Robert Puente clarified that the CIP is for plant improvements, not all deferred maintenance.
Uplift Program Expansion: The Uplift program, which assists low-income households, will see its eligibility threshold raised from 125% to 150% of the federal poverty level. Staff estimated that this could increase eligible families from about 5,300 to potentially over 10,000. The program is funded by a surcharge (32 cents per 1,000 gallons) on all customers. Councilmembers Spears and Galván requested more details on program marketing and automatic enrollment.
Infrastructure Concerns: Councilmember Alderete Gabito highlighted persistent water leaks in his district (e.g., at Jefferson High School, Hildebrand area) and noted that 25% of repair funds were concentrated in districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. He expressed frustration that the Monticello and Jefferson High School areas were not prioritized. Robert Puente acknowledged the issue and stated that SOS has increased its workforce to address breaks, with a goal of reducing the number of breaks that peaked in 2023.
Conservation and Customer Outreach: Councilmember Galván emphasized the need to better communicate conservation programs to residents, especially those just above the poverty line who may not qualify for Uplift. Staff noted they are exploring multiple outreach methods, including public events and digital tools, and have individual programs for businesses.
Coordination with Other Departments: Councilmember Galván asked about improved coordination between SOS and the city's public works department (C.P.L.) regarding street cuts and infrastructure projects. Staff confirmed regular meetings with Mike Shannon and Arturo to align schedules.

Key Outcomes

No formal vote was taken at this informational session. The session served to present the staff recommendations to the City Council.
Consensus on tariff direction: Council members generally acknowledged the need for increases to fund infrastructure but urged SOS to keep increases as low as possible and to return with a more detailed plan for 2029.
Personnel changes to proceed: The recommendation to eliminate 48 vacant positions and add 37 positions was presented as part of the budget package, with the understanding that SOS could return to council if more staffing is justified.
Uplift program expansion supported: Council indicated support for the eligibility threshold increase, with a request for more data on enrollment and outreach strategies.
Infrastructure prioritization to be reviewed: Councilmember Alderete Gabito called for a more transparent process for prioritizing pipe replacements based on age, material, and soil. Robert Puente noted that a capital committee is already discussing this and will present to council in the coming months.
Next steps: Staff will continue to refine the budget and tariff proposals, with further council discussion expected before final adoption.

Meeting Transcript

Bueno, buenas tardes, el tiempo is dos con three minutes ahora in Miércoles in the ciudad de San Antonio. This session está empezando a todos, por favor, uh, el concejal Mick Rodriguez Villagrán, Concejal Monguilla, Concejal Castillo, Concejal Galván, Concejal Alderete Gabito, Concejal Mesa González, concejal Spears, concejal White y Mary Jones. Este es una junta de un resumen informativo, donde se pidió que se hiciera un aumento que vamos a empezar la semana que entra. Muchas gracias, Mayoral. Um vamos a empezar a resumir para el plan and the requerido por este sistema de agua de San Antonio. Y como usted está afectado, este el staff tiene recomendación, uh recommendations in question a cualquier presupuesto, in campus de uh tariffs, uh, el personal and dental of the tariffs. So, we're el staff y estamos pediendo varios modifications proposed for the department of the await. Y le quiero mencionar que le pusieron bastante tiempo y compromiso. Y también tenemos algo pequeño, de nuestro departamento de finanzas, tenemos que tener opportunity to present those individuals, Jeff Cowen, que es el assistente financiero. El tiene 25 años de experiencia, y esto ha es el hecho tiene experiencia 25 años experiencia y tenemos a Morris Hairs que tiene 21 años oficial. Este equipo basicamente se ha desarrollado dentro del equipo de la ciudad. The part of the Department of the Southern San Antonio para monitoring policy that impacted the ciudat and some responses to put in order the element of the quotas razonables and put it in connection in the application members of the revision comprensive that is what the equipped different articles. In terms of historically, look at the term of this presupuesto operacional. And we'll have to plan capital in the CIP and the program financier capital, and how we presupped this. And this model, in this system, is satisfactory losses, and the gas of the operations, and mantenimiento, y después el mini balance, and all the most element of the ciud. A cerca of 25 million dollars in gas de mantenimento. Los demás were gastos para tener el programado capital de partes de San Antonio and uh funds restrictivos and impact. Uh, can impact and determined the equipped in the effective queen in mano, and what is the most uh clave for the center quatro años. In the 2024, the uh assumptions del modelo y those standing electronics in the manoeuvre. Okay, significa is that in this caso los ganancias, but they serve that announcement, the servicio son one point cinco de la service of deuda y en cuanto a desempenho uno. A los tiene una double A uno y S I P double A plus. Inquanto a flujo de fundos, estamos hablando in la operation y el presupuesto de mantenimiento anda algunos detalles y más granular en cuanto a lo que estamos mostrando ahorita. Lo que tenemos in el año 25 and 26, básicamente aumentando 5.9%, casi 14 millones. Como se ve el presupuesto comparado con el año 2025, 2.1% de aumento, y también los materiales and el costumbre ha bajado. Historicamente, historicamente, los O and aumentado para el año 2025 y el año 26 como 26 millones de dólares. 27.9 million de dollars. Aumentar de 19 a 20 dollars los salarios de vida anda el costo por los servicios utilitarios and los impactos de inflation. Based on this revision that mencionamos, we have dialogue muy profundo con SOS. Then we have 48 personas que faltaban, tenían vacantes, and los 2010 puestos que se necesitaban para que se tengan responder a esas métricas que se están midiendo. Estamos recomendando que se recomienda la elimination of the 48 puestos vacantes and los 37 puestos se aumentan. Those of the areas that we have is los contratos de los proveedores de agua. Hemos tenido diálogo in los últimos dos años en cuanto a la tarifa in los últimos 4 años. Y se tiene 1.2 million de recomendación del CPS. Nosotros no estamos los que estamos presupuestando los aumentos con CPS, por eso queremos borrarlo de aquí. Para el año 2026 y 2027, el CIP is un cambio in el proceso cuando llega el 28 and the 29.2030.2 million for a plan de 5 años. The mayor of the CIP tiene enfoque specifico para lo que es el agua potable andar 3.2 millions de dollars de programas. Nuevamente, viendo de un angulo differente, el CIP, and when they have initiatives principales, arriba hacia abajo, los reemplazos de agua residuales principales ofrece la parte governamental y se ve que se ha estado puesto la meta in esas areas específicas. In resumen, ya estamos casi finalizando en el lado izquierdo se tienen tres tablas diferentes. La primera tabla is el plan original donde se está proponendo por SOS, basado en nuestra recommendación que estamos viendo la reduction de los años 2026, que sea 5.6% y en el año residencial por siete point nove percent para y el seis point nove por ciento. In the 2027, 6.9%. And we have discussions in the presentation that would have been opportunities in terms of the content legal, the increment of the prices. But they have the opportunity to regress using the model of 2028 and 5.5% and 7% and the personal de la ciudad. And this is because we have an increment of pressure, but it required an approval of the members of the Consejo. And there are responsibility and projections of the other projections of it in adelanted. And we have an increment of $4.47 of the plan ajusting $56 and $59.59. And then a reduction of $660. And so we are presupposed in the 5 minutes. This is the process that we have to use the revision and I have a part of a year. The Department of Agua opera in a project bastante complicated because it's been regularly in this. You can mention that the obligation to have a just that presentation originally no exactly.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com