New City Budget Supports Key Services and Finds Efficiencies

Published on September 19, 2024

New City Budget Supports Key Services, Finds Efficiencies and Invests in Community Priorities

SAN ANTONIO (September 19, 2024) – Today, the City of San Antonio’s Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a $3.96 billion budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 as presented by City Manager Erik Walsh. The adopted budget reflects the priorities of the Council and the community and underscores the City’s commitment to remaining responsible, resourceful, and resilient in a tight fiscal year. 

The cost of delivering services is rising faster than revenue growth. In response, City departments identified ways to deliver key services more efficiently with no impact to residents. The adopted budget also invests in areas identified by residents as priorities, including homelessness, animal care services, streets and sidewalks, and public safety. 

“This budget focuses on the needs of this community,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “It also invests in residents’ priorities. I want to thank City Manager Erik Walsh and his team for their excellent work and my colleagues for helping shape a truly resourceful budget.”

The adopted budget includes funds to perform 41,170 spay/neuter surgeries, complete 1,618 street maintenance projects, shelter 500 people, and clean up 1,300 homeless encampments. It provides 65 new police officers, 14 new positions in Animal Care Services for critical calls, and 15 new firefighter positions to address medical calls. 

The Budget includes a Capital Plan with $1.6 billion allocated over six years for the development of a new terminal at San Antonio International Airport. Additionally, the Budget includes $125 million for a larger parking garage to include a ground transportation center for rideshare services, taxis, VIA Metropolitan Transit bus connections, and hotel shuttles. 

The City has a two-year budget plan in accordance with the City’s established financial policies. It also maintains a minimum 15 percent General Fund ending balance and keeps public safety spending below 66 percent of the General Fund. This is the 32nd consecutive year without city tax rate increases. 

The City’s strong financial management was key to Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirming its ‘AAA’ general obligation bond ratings. Fitch Ratings also reaffirmed the City’s ‘AA+’ bond rating with a positive outlook.  

“Resident feedback this year showed an all-time high satisfaction rating in overall quality of City services, and we owe it to the community to continue making impactful investments while staying responsible and resourceful with our budget,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “I want to thank the City team for finding $36.6 million in reductions to the General Fund over the next two years with no impact to City services. I want to thank Council for their time in the goal-setting process and approving our financial policies. And thank you to our residents for speaking up and being part of the policy-making process through their comments and participation at budget town hall meetings. Public input is critical to our resilience as a community.” 

The Adopted Budget At A Glance

• $3.96 billion
• • $1.67 billion General Fund
  • $1.4 billion Restricted Fund
  • $860 million Capital Budget
• $147 million in property tax relief
• 3 percent raise for City employees
• 7 percent raise for firefighters
• 4 percent raise for police officers

Repair & Maintain Streets & Sidewalks 

The community and City Council identified infrastructure as a top priority. The FY25 budget boosts its investment in streets by $6 million to $122 million, allowing us to complete 1,618 projects and maintain about 370 miles next year. The City will maintain its $21.5 million investment in sidewalks, constructing 28.9 miles of new sidewalk and repairing 15.7 miles.

Address Homelessness 

Residents and Council named homeless services as a shared priority. The FY25 budget directly invests $44.2 million into homeless services. As a result, 500 people will be sheltered, and 1,300 homeless encampments will be cleaned up within 14 days of notification. We are also investing $35.5 million in affordable housing to include home rehabilitation and repair, rental assistance, and down payment assistance. The proposed budget continues the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan so that 11,238 homes are constructed, under construction or in the planning stages in fiscal year 2025.

Invest in Animal Care 

Last year, the City implemented a multi-year plan to respond to 100 percent of critical calls by 2026. The proposed budget will continue to invest in this plan by adding 14 positions to address critical calls. The proposed budget also adds 21 positions to operate two new spay/neuter clinics, enabling 41,170 surgeries.

Keep San Antonio Safe 

Public Safety will receive $1 billion in the General Fund. The proposed budget invests $6.3 million to add 65 police officers, and $1.4 million to add 15 firefighters to address medical calls. We also are investing $15.4 million to complete the replacement of three fire stations.

To learn more about the budget, visit SA.gov/Budget.