SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio city staff members recommended their final five picks to the City Council on Wednesday for the next round of annexations.
Some county residents whose areas didn't make the cut breathed a sigh of relief, while others will keep fighting to stay out of the city.
“Kitty” Janiga lives on 130 acres of Bexar County land complete with a river, agriculture exemptions and a lake she runs a hunting and fishing service on. She's located near Lackland Air Force base on Loop 1604 off Nelson Road.
Janiga said it makes no sense to suddenly live in San Antonio.
"I would have to have city police protection, which is at least 20 minutes away. I would have to have city fire, which is at least 20 minutes away, versus five minutes," Janiga said. "(It’s) taxation with no benefits."
Janiga is just one of the speakers who told City Council at a public hearing that they aren’t happy with the annexation proposal on the table and the city taxes that come with it.
City staff originally looked at nine areas at all points of the compass. They whittled it down to five locations: the Babcock Road corridor, the Potranco Road-West Loop 1604 corridors, the Vance Jackson-North Loop 1604 West tracks, the Foster Road area, and the Interstate 10 East-Loop 1604 East interchange.
Marvin Godbolt's Wiseman Boulevard community, Trails at Westpointe, received a notice in June of the possible annexation, but the community didn't make the cut for the final proposal. The Meritage Homes representative said it will save 26 current homeowners from an annual $3,000-$4,000 tax increase.
"Super excited. Super excited for my homeowners. Definitely, think it's the right thing," Godbolt said. "Put some sweat off my head."
To the naysayers, the city reminds them of the benefits of strong police and fire departments, parks, libraries and lower insurance rates.
"Eighty-four percent of residents that don't live in the city, actually come into the city every day to work," Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni said. "While they don't want to be part of the city, they say. In fact, they kind of are."
Zanoni also noted there is legislation which passed the Texas Senate and is in the Texas House that would give residents more say in whether they are annexed. If passed, the measure could affect the city's plans.
There is one more public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Council Chambers. A possible vote is scheduled for Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. during the City Council meeting.
--------------------------------------------------------
Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT 12 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.