City of San Antonio unveils 2017 proposed budget

Proposal includes additional police officers, Wi-Fi in parks, parental leave

SAN ANTONIO – The $2.5 billion proposed city budget for fiscal year 2017 calls for $64 million for street maintenance, $15 million for sidewalks, an additional 32 SAPD officers and nine park police officers.

“We think we're meeting the needs,” said City Manager Sheryl Sculley. “We evaluate the number of officers per thousand population, and we're keeping up with our growing community.”

“We'll get more in-depth on how exactly those resources are deployed,” said San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor. “I know many of the neighborhood folks want to see more community-oriented policing in their neighborhoods.”

Streets, sidewalks and public safety were all items residents who were surveyed wanted to see prioritized in the upcoming budget.

Part of Thursday’s budget presentation included what the city won’t spend next year.

If a tentative mediated settlement between the city and the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association is approved September 1, officers will begin contributing to the cost of health care for their dependents.

“This is a huge step forward for the city,” Sculley said. “In the past, public safety employees have not paid health care premiums for themselves, or for their dependents.”

The budget also accounts for Smart Cities Initiatives that would boost digital connectivity.

Included in a $13 million chunk of the budget is a proposed pilot program to add Wi-Fi to 10 city parks and to install solar panels on benches to allow for charging of mobile devices.

“It’s something that people demand and expect,” Taylor said. “We don’t want to be in the dark ages. We want to be in the forefront.”

One million dollars will be set aside for street lighting.

Video: City of San Antonio unveils 2017 proposed budget Pt. 1

Animal Care Services will get an additional $900,000 to its budget, which could pay for two additional ACS officers and 5,000 more spay/neuter procedures.

Funding would remain steady at $21 million for Delegate Agencies, such as workforce development programs and domestic violence prevention programs.

Of all the numbers mentioned Thursday, one of the smallest had an emotional impact: six. That’s how many additional weeks of paid parental leave the city would give its employees in the proposed budget.

A new mother who addressed the council, who also works in the city’s 911 call center, knows the value of that time.

“He was born at 34 weeks. And it was unexpected,” said Jennifer Arlen. “We didn’t have money put away in order to compensate for our bills while I was out.”

Arlen and her husband had to turn to Catholic Charities for help.

Taylor said she nearly teared up when she heard about the additional paid parental leave.

“I was a city employee when my daughter was born, and I was only able to spend nine weeks with her. At least three of those weeks were unpaid,” Taylor said. “So for us to be able to offer so many weeks of paid leave to both mothers and fathers when they have a child, I just think it’s extraordinary.”

The proposed budget also earmarks 24 hours of paid leave for city employees for wellness and education commitments, such as doctor appointments and parent-teacher conferences.

“I feel that this is a great move because it’s going to strengthen our families,” Arlen said.

The community is invited to several public meetings to share feedback on the proposed budget. The council vote on the budget is slated for Sept. 15.

The public meetings schedule is as follows:

  • Aug. 22: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Claude Black Community Center at 2805 E. Commerce

  • Aug. 23: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center at 8400 N.W. Military Highway

  • Aug. 25: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Tool Yard at 10303 Tool Yard

  • Aug. 29: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Normoyle Community and Senior Center at 700 Culberson Ave.

  • Sept. 1: 5:30-7:30 p.m.  at South Side Lions Community Center at 3100 Hiawatha Street

Link: FY 2017 Proposed Presentation 

 


About the Author:

Myra Arthur is passionate about San Antonio and sharing its stories. She graduated high school in the Alamo City and always wanted to anchor and report in her hometown. Myra anchors KSAT News at 6:00 p.m. and hosts and reports for the streaming show, KSAT Explains. She joined KSAT in 2012 after anchoring and reporting in Waco and Corpus Christi.