San Antonio City Council Work Session on Budget and TIF Extensions - September 1, 2026
San Antonio City Council Work Session on Budget and TIF Extensions - September 1, 2026
The San Antonio City Council convened a work session on September 1, 2026, to review proposed budget items, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) extensions, housing services, and homelessness programs. Presentations were made by Verónica Garcia (Director of Housing Services) and Mark (Director of Homeless Services). No formal votes were taken; the council will consider these items on September 10, 2026.
TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Discussion
- Verónica Garcia presented an overview of the TIF policy adopted in March 2026, emphasizing priorities such as housing, arts and culture, economic development, and historic preservation. The proposed TIF budget for the year is $46,628,621 for city-initiated projects.
- Staff recommended extending several TIF districts to 2060, including the ITC property for UTSA, the zoological and botanical gardens, Brackenridge Park, and several other projects. The council will consider these extensions on September 10.
- Councilmember Corr expressed strong support for TIF as a tool to attract investment and benefit underserved communities, particularly in District 3. He noted that TIF allows the city to fund infrastructure that the general fund cannot cover.
- Councilmember White supported TIF extensions but requested that extensions be tied to tangible neighborhood benefits and that staff provide data on how TIF investments outside the district benefit the originating area.
- Councilmember Rodriguez thanked staff and expressed support for TIF-funded projects like the senior center and Roosevelt Park renovations. He urged colleagues to view TIF as an equity tool rather than using it for controversial sports projects.
- Councilmember Castillo asked about TIF affordability requirements; staff clarified that the council can impose affordability conditions on a project-by-project basis. She also requested data on the percentage of affordable housing produced within TIF districts.
- Councilmember Munguía noted that TIF funded projects that benefit cultural institutions, but expressed concern that funds are diverted from the general fund to areas that are already developed.
- Councilmember (unnamed) expressed skepticism about TIF, acknowledging its benefits but worrying about the accountability of outcomes and the opportunity cost of forgoing property tax revenue for the general fund.
Housing Services Discussion
- Verónica Garcia presented the proposed budget for neighborhood and housing services (NHSD), including a strategic housing implementation plan (SHIP) with a goal of preserving 20,000 homes by 2027. The plan includes 36 strategies and collaboration with multiple partners.
- The proposed budget includes $1.5 million for minor repairs, $7.7 million for major rehabilitation, and $6.2 million for rental assistance. Staff recommended transferring $500 million (likely $500,000) from other funds to housing programs.
- A reduction of $210,000 was proposed for property tax workshops, transitioning to online resources. Councilmembers emphasized the importance of maintaining one-on-one support for homeowners.
- Councilmember Spears asked about completion rates: staff reported that by the end of FY2026, approximately 9,000 units (50% of the 20,000 goal) will be completed. She also asked about tracking long-term outcomes (e.g., whether residents remain housed after six months).
- Councilmember Galván asked about cost comparisons with other cities' homeless services and requested data on per-unit or per-bed costs.
- Councilmember Mesa González asked about criteria for priority projects and supported preservation initiatives.
- Councilmember Castillo expressed concern about a fee increase for the San Antonio Housing Trust from $2,500 to $50,000, worried that it would raise costs for deep affordability projects.
- Councilmember Munguía praised the good neighbor program and urged that tree maintenance be included in rehabilitation programs.
Homeless Services Discussion
- Mark, Director of Homeless Services, reported that the department started on October 1, 2025, and has helped over 2,500 people. The proposed FY2027 budget includes $5.1 million from the general fund and $8 million for delegate agencies.
- A camp removal pilot program was proposed, focusing on improving outcomes for homeless individuals through daily outreach by social workers for 4-6 weeks before moving to new locations.
- Staff highlighted a partnership with Goodwill for a day labor program and a $3 million annual grant for behavioral health and housing stability.
- Councilmember Spears asked about indirect costs to police and fire; staff estimated $34 million in indirect costs. She supported the pilot program.
- Councilmember Galván asked about capacity compared to other cities; staff acknowledged the need to start small and learn from other cities like Denver.
- Councilmember Mesa González asked about the number of new people entering homelessness annually; staff reported approximately 750 per year in FY2026.
- Councilmember Castillo noted barriers to shelter for migrants and supported low-barrier shelter access.
- Councilmember Corr reiterated support for homeless services but urged collaboration with the county and surrounding cities.
- Councilmember (unnamed) asked about legal assistance for eviction prevention; staff reported $100,000 allocated for third-party legal services helping 330 referrals.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; the council will consider TIF extensions, housing, and homelessness budget items at the September 10, 2026 meeting.
- Staff will provide additional data requested by councilmembers, including:
- Metrics on TIF investment outcomes and affordability requirements.
- Per-unit cost analysis for homeless services.
- A report on how TIF funds are used outside the district and the resulting benefits.
- A plan to incorporate tree maintenance into rehabilitation programs for storm-affected areas.
- The council expressed general support for the proposed budget direction, with some members emphasizing the need to prioritize equity and accountability in TIF spending.
Meeting Transcript
And the session of the presupuesto of the ciud, concejales, concejal Corr, Concejal Mike Rodriguez, Concejal Villagrand, Concejal Mungía, Concejal Castillo, Concejal Galván, Concejal Alderete Gabito, Concejal Mesa González, Concejal Spears, Concejal White. Aquí Jones, Quorum, revisar los services ofienda anders in vivienda. Buenos días, concejal. Antes de commencer the presentations, that no van the presentation, because the ultimate years are in design of the torment of the Viernes, Distrito 4, 5, 1, and district 10. Anticipation this program at finals of the semana. No, the presentation of this mañana, but it's a plan that we proponent via fines of the semana. Buenos días, so Verónica Garcia, Director of Services of Vivienda. The Consejo adopted the program of political TIF in March of 2026, which reiterates the priority to include but not limited of viviendas equipment and artes and culture, desarroll economic, programs of capacitation and preservation of propiedades historically, and designation and reiterate an evaluation of projects entending the vulnerability of vecindarios aledaños. TIFF and congelamiento con congelamiento of impuests and suben of the property. And we propones for impuests. Proposed for the año is $46,628,621 for desarroll and those that are initiated by the city. El Consejo se le va a pedir que consideran extend to 2060 and various that semana. One of those is the compra de ITC, esta proprietà para UTSA, and installations that include zoology, the jardines botanics and Brackenridge Park. And consideration of future is the project of Jones and Commercio and extended elmino to 2060 by Linianos with these options of financiation. And then actions for tomorrow in consideration in September 10. The city is the participant entity and appointment operations H Park. Actually, desarrolladors. Much tiers have periods of término que se expand various años and decades. In resumen, the Consejo of the City regressar the 10 of September for consideration in various puntos that are going to be on tears. Primero let's say extensions of tears for the 2060 para varios. Dentro de la ciudad se aprovechó el centro de adultos mayores y el centro acuático, el mission drive in acaba de approvision in district three, the installations acuáticas for 1.8 million and pabellón de heritage, World Heritage Pavilion de 750 million. El Corredor Northeast, the letreros for the vecindario de 1.32 million, and the media of the city, the computer of the propied ITC de UTSA, which are hasta 60 million dollars, installations of the city and financiation of social culturales. El zoológico con una expansión occidental de la ciudad atrás atention and the jardines botanics también se recomenda por 10 millones de financiamiento. Es el campus de horticultura que tiene espacios para acceso a educación publication and voluntaries. El parque, la conservación del parque Brackenridge, Sunken Garden, el Teatro, el restaurante del Teatro Sound Garden and Conservación del Parque. También in Westside is considerando un programos del Centro de Desviación. Esto regresará el 10 of September for consideration of ustedes. Esto concluye la presentation of financiamiento de la zona de reembolso del incremento de impuestos. También nuestros administradores que revisan administrativos services in the community. The session del trabajo de hoy va a include una revision del trabajo que se hace todos los días para tener viviendas atrás. Vamos a compartir nuestro presupuesto propuesto para el año proximity, el bono de vivienda anda impactante que estamos haciendo. Se define una prioridad in nuestra community. La vivienda, el cost of the vivienda se ha elevado muy rapid. Esto no ayuda a la estabilidad para personas que rentan anders and dueños de viviendas. Estamos trabajando con esto. Trabajamos junto a muchos participantes, construyendo casas and compartiendo el financiamiento de la ciudad con dólares of the ciudad, alguien que dólares privados para extender el impact. Nuestro trabajo discrito por el plan de implementación de la vivienda está compartido por varios personas esta mañana. It's the union of various organizations, incluye 36 strategies in collaboration with practical. Junto nuestra meta is preservando más de 20 mil casas para el 2020 on different niveles de ingreso. Este año marca el quinto año in el plan. Nuestras 20 mil casas es la acumulación de varios metas para personas que rentan al igual que proprietarios ofas andas para varios ingresos de varios ingresos para tener una cantidad de casas diversas. Esta cantidad de casas salieron igual or aún excedente lo que se necesita propuesto. Hemos ayudado a muchas más casas de lo que se planeó in varios ofreces. Para mantener este trabajo fuerte, reconocer que tenemos un crecimiento de población más alto de lo que esperábamos, cambios en nuestro financiamiento y cómo poder utilizar este financiamiento, al igual que reconocer los esfuerzos, incluyendo la fuerza laboral de proportion of viviendas. Queremos renovar estas metas de SHEP. En August 2019 of the actualizar nuestras metas de vivienda y fue muy bien recebida. Fuimos a PCDC, que es el Comité de Vivienda con estas recomendaciones y lo vamos a traer in Octubre a la consideración del Consejo de la Ciudad. Esto nos ayuda las metas parecen alcanzables ando se ha hecho por los equipos dedicados del vivienda in the ciudad, including the political de la vivienda, en donde tenemos el desarrollo de la politica de vivienda, que es in donde se enfoca in estas strategies of compartir andros and actualization el tablero de SHIP for que la community has more servicio and sepa mejor cómo estamos in este plan. The equipment of stability of vivienda trabaja con problemas de los dueños ofers and evitar el embargo de viviendas. They have the rehabilitation of programmas para nuevas casas costeables y asequibles indoctronics por sí mismo no puede hacerlo.
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