San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones criticized city leadership and voted against the newly adopted $4.4 billion municipal budget on Sept. 18, 2026, pointing to a property tax rate hike that she argued places an unnecessary burden on residents during an affordability crisis. The San Antonio City Council passed the spending plan in a split vote, with seven members supporting the budget and property tax increase, while Mayor Jones and council members Marina Alderete Gavito, Misty Spears, and Marc Whyte voted against both measures.
Budget Deficit and Property Tax Impact
City budget writers faced a $158 million challenge—closing a $158 million gap between projected revenues and expenses over a two-year period. To balance the ledger, the city approved a property tax rate increase of two cents, bringing the rate to just over 56 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The adjustment means the average homeowner with a homestead exemption will see an increase of about $35 on their annual tax bill. City records show San Antonio had not raised its property tax rate since 1992.
The budget and new tax rate take effect on Oct. 1, marking the start of fiscal year 2027.
Mayoral Proposals and Council Friction
Mayor Jones argued that City Manager Erik Walsh and his staff failed to deliver a fiscally responsible spending plan. Speaking at the Metro SA Chamber’s City Vision event on Sept. 21, 2026, Jones stated that council members lacked the appetite to pursue alternative strategies.
Ahead of the vote, Mayor Jones proposed across-the-board cuts of 1.6% to save $28 million and avert the tax increase. Progressive members of the council criticized the idea as irresponsible, and City Manager Walsh noted that staff lacked sufficient time to determine what specific services would face cuts.
Jones also advocated for utilizing sales and hotel tax revenue to fund nonprofit programs and grants, which would remove them from the $1.76 billion general fund that pays for street repairs, police protection, and fire services. Rather than building a council majority through direct lobbying, Jones primarily advanced her ideas via memos, brief conversations, and news conferences—an approach West Side Councilwoman Teri Castillo described as checking a box rather than seeking genuine feedback.
Defense of the Spending Plan
Council members representing San Antonio’s lower-income districts defended the final budget, arguing that avoiding the tax increase would have forced severe cuts to essential community programs.
District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia criticized the mayor’s characterization of the council’s work, stating that members carefully weighed the costs of reducing vital services against a modest monthly tax increase for residents. Ultimately, representatives from the city’s poorest districts, including Districts 1 through 5, supported the tax hike to protect community funding.
Human Services Director Melody Woosley reported to the council in late August that 48 local nonprofits will receive a total of $5.1 million in general-fund dollars under the new budget. These organizations serve approximately 9,300 residents, with 70% of those individuals residing in Districts 1 through 5 across the East, West, and South sides and downtown San Antonio.