San Antonio City Council Meeting - September 17, 2026: FY 2027 Budget Adoption and Property Tax Increase

The San Antonio City Council convened at 9:15 AM on September 17, 2026, to adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, culminating months of deliberations. The meeting included a celebration of the U.S. Air Force's 79th birthday, recognition of POW/MIA Day, and extensive public testimony and council debate over a proposed property tax increase—the first in 33 years—and various fee adjustments. The final budget, totaling $4.4 billion, was approved by a 7-4 vote, along with a property tax rate increase and fee ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Items 11 through 24 on the consent agenda were approved unanimously without individual discussion. One public speaker, Teresa Gutierrez, addressed item 11.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zachary Carrasco (Taft High School student, Mayor's Fitness Council) urged the council to restore funding for the Mayor's Fitness Council, citing its impact on youth leadership and community.
• Ed Bannis (District 4 resident, former Coast Guard) urged support for all increases, arguing the city is not broke but has a distribution problem.
• Ana Acevedo and Dr. Rocha Garcia (San Antonio Education Partnership) requested full restoration of $2.2 million in scholarship funding for 2,900 students, emphasizing the return on investment.
• Paul Rodriguez (UP Partnership) asked for continued investment in youth programs and a transparent framework for future cuts.
• Father Dennis Schaefer (COPS/Metro Alliance) supported a modest tax increase, arguing it would not harm the most vulnerable (47% of taxpayers unaffected) and that investment in people is key to future prosperity.
• Jeanette McCart (Brown Station West community president) opposed the tax increase, citing fixed-income retirees and rising costs, urging the council to cut spending instead.
• Judith Gerwitz (District 8 resident) opposed raising taxes when basic services like police staffing are lacking, arguing tax increases hurt renters and the poor.
• Christopher Longoria (Americans for Prosperity) urged the council to find a different path, proposing cuts to the Ready to Work program and across-the-board departmental reductions.
• Jack M. Finger (Americans for Prosperity) denounced the tax increase and fee hikes (garage sale permits, parking, garbage) as kicking taxpayers when down, questioning the reproductive justice fund.
• Hope Garza (Americans for Prosperity) appealed to the council's conscience, emphasizing the burden on seniors, veterans, and families, and asked for no new revenue.
• Mae Ellsbury (Americans for Prosperity) requested rejection of the property tax increase, arguing the city's spending growth (4.1%) outpaces the tax base.
• Manny Garcia urged voting against the tax increase to keep San Antonio affordable for young families and retirees.
• John Melendez (Americans for Prosperity) opposed the tax increase, noting it affects homeowners, renters, and businesses, and called for a no-new-revenue rate.
• Rodney Kidd urged protecting arts and culture as economic infrastructure, improving traffic safety, and expanding business incubators.
• Kathleen Vail (District 1 homeowner) argued for equity in cuts, warning against cutting services while funding a downtown sports stadium.
• Debbie Benke (automotive recycling industry) opposed a 400% increase in license fees for auto recyclers, stating it would hurt businesses and lead to more abandoned vehicles.
• Dan Snyder (auto recycler) requested a balanced approach to fee increases and promised to submit additional comments.
• Clemente Sanchez (San Antonio Apartment Association) criticized the lack of transparency in the proposed increase in apartment inspection fees from $100 to $200 per unit, requesting the same engagement given to other industries.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Budget Presentation: Deputy Manager Justina Tate presented final amendments, including $4.5 million in additional revenue over two years from increased fees (booting, parking fines, river barge tickets, hazmat, library cards) and restoration of programs such as part-time nutrition sites, tuition reimbursement, San Antonio Education Partnership scholarships (restored $1.5 million of $2.1 million), a cultural initiatives position, the gastronomy program (absorbed by Visit San Antonio in FY28), DSE SAS ($40,000 from council carryforwards), a climate adaptation manager, five health department positions, and after-school challenge funding for Southwest ISD. Also included: $1 million for women's health programs (reproductive justice) from Medicaid waiver reserves, and an increase in capital improvement projects per council district from $200,000 to $1 million (total $8 million) funded through debt capacity.
• Council Debate on the Budget and Amendments:
  • Councilmember McKee Rodriguez (District 2) urged supporting the budget as presented, stressing that cuts would disproportionately harm districts 1-5, and called for continued conversation on long-term revenue.
  • Councilmember Via Gran (District 4) noted the 3.5% cap on property tax increases and stated the budget protects core services. He opposed amendments.
  • Councilmember Alderete Gavito (District 7) stated she would vote no on the tax increase, preferring a 1.6% across-the-board cut, but respected colleagues' intentions.
  • Councilmember Galvan (District 6) supported the budget, arguing that cuts beyond what staff proposed would directly harm services like libraries, parks, and public safety. He noted the state's $27 billion rainy day fund.
  • Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez (District 8) supported the budget, stressing that rejecting the tax increase would abdicate council responsibility to the city manager. She called for more transparent budget formats.
  • Councilmember Mungia (District 4) supported the budget, noting that the most humble residents were willing to pay more to maintain services, and criticized the state for sitting on surplus funds.
  • Councilmember White (District 10) opposed the tax increase, arguing the city's spending is out of control (general fund grew $600 million in 10 years, non-public safety personnel spending grew 18.5% vs. 5.5% population growth). He proposed an amendment to fund 10 safe officers ($1.6 million) via cuts to the Northeast Corridor Revitalization program and SA Tomorrow planning, but the amendment failed (7-4? not specified, but motion failed). He later moved to delay the vote for a week to study across-the-board cuts, but that motion also failed.
  • Councilmember Spears (District 9) opposed the tax increase, arguing for cuts to core services first. She proposed an amendment for 10 additional patrol officers funded by cuts to adult programming ($750,000) and the SAWS Plumbers to People program ($407,618), but it failed. She then attempted an amendment to fund two safe officers from her and Councilmember White's district budgets, but withdrew it after the police chief could not guarantee they would stay in the north substation.
  • Councilmember Corr (District 1) supported the budget, highlighting that homestead exemptions have reduced taxes for many, and the increase for a median home ($235,000) would be $36/year.
  • Councilmember Castillo (District 5) supported the budget, praising the $6 million increase in affordable housing, restoration of CIP, reproductive justice fund, and fee increases for auto recyclers to address environmental concerns.
  • Mayor Jones (who cast a 'No' vote) opposed the budget, arguing that the council did not exhaust all options (e.g., transferring eligible expenses to Ready to Work) and that a 1.6% cut could have avoided the tax increase. She noted the budget still funds Fiesta, UT public health, botanical gardens, and the World Heritage Office.

Key Outcomes

• Item 5 (FY 2027 Budget Adoption): Approved by voice vote (7-4; Councilmembers Alderete Gavito, Spears, White, and Mayor Jones voted 'Nay'). The motion included approval of the budget as presented except for funding for Guardian House, which was then separately approved.
• Item 6 (Tax Revenue Ratification): Approved (same vote).
• Item 7 (Property Tax Rate - M&O): Approved 7-4. The rate is set at 35.138 cents per $100 valuation, a 2.20% increase over the previous rate.
• Item 8 (Debt Service Tax Rate): Approved by voice vote (21.150 cents per $100, an increase).
• Item 9 (Fee Ordinance): Approved by voice vote.
• Item 10 (Closing Ordinance): Approved by voice vote.
• All amendments (White's safe officers, Spears' patrol officers, and the delay motion) failed.