San Antonio City Council Approves Property Tax Increase Amidst Budget Adjustments
The San Antonio City Council has approved a 3.9% property tax increase, the first since 1992, to address a budget deficit. This decision comes as the city faces softening property values and rising inflation. Bexar County, in contrast, opted to use reserve funds to avoid a tax rate hike. The city's $4.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is 8.6% larger than the previous year, includes significant investments, particularly a $2.5 billion redevelopment of the San Antonio International Airport. This airport project alone accounts for 6.3% of the budget's growth. Other changes include increased fees for various city services, such as park pavilion rentals, development permits, and library services for non-residents. The budget also saw cuts, with 100 city staff positions eliminated, 39 of which were from the San Antonio Public Library system, despite a 4% overall increase in the library's budget.
