SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley on Thursday presented a $2.7 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2018 to the City Council.
The proposed budget, the largest-ever in city history, doesn't call for a property tax increase.
If approved, the budget would add 40 new police officers and 43 new firefighters and paramedics.
A good chunk of the budget, $99 million, would pay for street maintenance, including a two-year program to improve the average street condition index to 70 percent in Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10.
The budget would also allocate $5 million for sidewalks and $1.8 for neighborhood improvements.
Sculley said her budget team decided to take a new approach to distributing funds.
"This year's budget introduces new City Council policy direction of budgeting through an equity lens," she said. "Ensuring resources are allocated effectively to improve the quality of life for all San Antonio residents.
"New spending proposed in this budget enhances equity initiatives in areas such as streets and public safety in neighborhoods with the most need. The proposed budget is balanced, maintains a 15 percent general fund ending balance and does not increase the city's property tax rate for the 25th consecutive year."
District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran said she liked the budgeting strategy.
"This is going to help set into motion just new and exciting things we can be prepared for as we grow in a balanced approach for the entire city. So, I'm very, very excited about this," she said.
But District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval wasn't convinced.
"It does not look at the poorest-served areas. It looks at an average, and we lose what is actually happening," Sandoval said.
The budget will allocate $1.9 billion, or 44 percent, for the general fund; $858 million, or 32 percent, for restricted funds and $639 million, or 24 percent for the capital budget.
A couple of fees will see small increases, Sculley said.
Fees for the stormwater operations fund will increase about 23 cents for residential customers. Fees for larger trash bins will also go up, but the increase is actually an incentive to get residents to collect less trash and recycle more.
More than 6,000 residents helped shaped the proposed budget through the #SASpeakUp campaign.
Residents are being invited to once again share their feedback and ideas for the proposed budgetat one of five upcoming 2017 Community Night open houses.
The Open House schedule is as follows:
- Aug. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center, 8400 NW Military Highway
- Aug. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Copernicus Community Center, 5003 Lord Road
- Aug. 21 from 7-8 p.m.: The Tool Yard, 10303 Tool Yard
- Aug. 22 from 5:30-8 p.m.: Central Library, 600 Soledad Street
- Aug. 26 from 9 a.m.-noon: Pearsall Park, 4838 Old Pearsall Road (In Spanish)
- Aug. 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Garza Community Center, 5627 Mira Vista
For the first time in the city's history, a budget presentation will be held entirely in Spanish so that all community members have an opportunity to learn about how their government works in a format they are comfortable with.
A downtown open house scheduled for Aug. 22 is tailored to young professionals and will feature live music from local band RANCH\HOUSE and a live podcast taping of "The City Insider" with Sculley.
Two public hearings will be held during City Council meetings prior to the budget being scheduled for adoption Sept. 14.
--------------------------------------------------------
Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.
Sign up today. It's Free.