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San Antonio City Council Approves $4 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2026

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The San Antonio City Council has approved a balanced $4 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which prioritizes essential services, invests in community needs, and maintains the city's property tax rate at its current level. Despite facing projected shortfalls, the city has made adjustments to close the gap, including reducing spending by $111 million, shifting costs to the Capital Budget, and eliminating 67 positions. The budget also sets the foundation for Fiscal Year 2027, preparing for slower revenue growth and rising costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The budget reduces spending by $111 million to close a projected shortfall, achieved through cost savings, shifting costs to the Capital Budget, and eliminating 67 positions, which were absorbed into existing vacancies.
  • The budget invests $30.5 million in homeless services, including $4.8 million to keep a low-barrier shelter operational, and ensures that 1,300 homeless encampments are cleaned up within 14 days of a 311 report.
  • A new Homeless Services & Strategy Department is established to focus on providing immediate help to the unhoused population and working on long-term solutions.
  • The budget establishes a Capital Delivery Department, with 188 existing positions, to deliver major bond projects on time and on budget, separate from routine maintenance.
  • $122 million is committed to street improvements, enough to complete 1,464 projects and maintain 416 miles of road, and $17 million is dedicated to sidewalks, adding 21 miles of new sidewalks and repairing 11 miles.
  • The budget invests $31.4 million in affordable housing through the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP), which aims to complete 13,100 affordable homes by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.
  • $631.5 million is invested in police services, including the addition of 40 new officers for patrol and 28 officers for the S. Flores substation.
  • $428 million is dedicated to the Fire Department, adding 12 new firefighters to address medical calls.
  • The budget continues a multi-year investment in Animal Care Services, allocating $33.6 million to achieve an 85% live release and placement rate, a 100% response rate to critical calls, and 41,459 spay and neuter surgeries.

Statistics:

  • Projected shortfall reduction: $111 million
  • Total budget: $4 billion
  • City's property tax rate: unchanged
  • Total investment in homeless services: $30.5 million
  • Number of low-barrier shelter operational: 1 (federally funded, with $4.8 million in City funding)
  • Number of homeless encampments cleaned up within 14 days: 1,300
  • Number of new positions in Capital Delivery Department: 188
  • Number of street improvement projects: 1,464
  • Number of road miles maintained: 416
  • Number of new sidewalks added: 21 miles
  • Number of miles of sidewalks repaired: 11
  • Total investment in affordable housing: $31.4 million
  • Number of affordable homes completed, underway, or planned: 13,100
  • Police officer additions: 40 (patrol) and 28 (S. Flores substation)
  • Firefighter additions: 12
  • Total investment in Animal Care Services: $33.6 million
  • Live release and placement rate goal: 85%
  • Response rate to critical calls goal: 100%
  • Number of spay and neuter surgeries goal: 41,459

Sources:

  • San Antonio City Council news release
  • City of San Antonio, 2026 Budget FYC

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