Councilmember Calls for Transparency in Spending on Local Businesses

Published on March 20, 2026

SAN ANTONIO (March 20, 2026) — District 7 Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito is calling for improved transparency and accountability in how City funds are spent on local businesses, aiming to better align public spending with the City’s commitment to supporting its local economy.

Councilmember Alderete Gavito stated, “Supporting local businesses strengthens our economy and creates jobs. While the City has made meaningful investments through programs like Buy Local, gaps remain in how local spending is tracked and reported across departments.

“Supporting local businesses keeps dollars circulating in our community. This policy proposal seeks to make sure our investments are reaching local businesses and delivering real benefits to our residents. With clearer data, we can better understand where our dollars are going and where we can do more.

“To address this, I am requesting a standardized reporting process that tracks the total amount and percentage of City dollars going to local businesses, establishes a clear definition of ‘local,’ and provides regular updates to City Council.

“Better information leads to better decisions. This is about making sure our policies are working and that we’re maximizing every opportunity to support San Antonio’s small businesses and their employees.”