The Chamber’s Public Affairs Council welcomed City Manager Sheryl Sculley to present the city’s proposed $2.7 billion budget, allowing members the opportunity to weigh in on how their tax dollars will be spent in fiscal year 2018. Under the leadership of new Mayor Ron Nirenberg and six new city council members, the City is focused on promoting innovation, efficiency, and equity in the support and services they provide to San Antonio residents.
This proposed budget was a collaborative effort between the community, business leaders and the city. Manager Sculley has been a strong proponent of civic engagement when developing the City’s budget. The City kicked off its third annual #SASpeakUP budget outreach campaign this past spring. City leaders received a record-breaking 6,082 responses during the budget outreach campaign. Responses were received from 18 community-wide events and through online surveys, and the feedback indicated that streets are the most highly used City service, which is reflected in the budget.
Sheryl Sculley has laid out three very important priorities: streets and infrastructure investment, increasing public safety personnel, and viewing the city through an “equity lens”.
City leaders have made it a top priority to help reduce the economic disparity within the city. This year, City leaders directed city staff to craft the budget through an equity lens, aimed at allocating vital city services to areas of greater need. This equity lens will be instrumental in developing an equitable budget that will advance equity in all functions of government and help to achieve the City’s vision of prosperity. The city has been a strong advocate of promoting equity since creating the Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO) in 2015.
The budget is divided into three key areas, and $1.19 billion has been allocated for the General Fund, $852 million for the Restricted Fund, and $639 million for the Capital Fund. Police and fire personnel, libraries, parks, human services and animal care services are just a few of the operating services under the General Fund. The city’s Capital Budget includes general obligation bonds for all capital improvement projects. Restricted funds include those funds that are used by the City to run as a business, including expenses for garbage collection and storm water operations.
Recommendations for the FY 2018 budget include $99 million for much needed street maintenance, which is a $30 million dollar increase from last year. Manager Sculley has a two-year plan to achieve an average street condition index of 70 across the city. She has proposed $3.8 million for police improvements, which includes the hiring of 38 new officers. An additional $5.2 million will be allocated to the San Antonio Fire Department for 31 new firefighters and 12 paramedics. Through this equity lens the City will be allocating $10 million to VIA over the next two years, $4.3 million of which will be allocated in the FY 2018 budget. This increase will help increase frequency on 10 routes and improve travel time along seven corridors.
We applaud the city for its sound fiscal management, which has been vital to maintaining the city’s Triple-A bond rating from all three major agencies. The FY 2018 fiscal year will NOT require a property tax rate increase for the 25
th consecutive year. The City will continue its #SASpeakUP outreach efforts with five upcoming Budget Open Houses, scheduled August 15-August 28. To learn more about the vision for San Antonio’s future and to actively participate in the budget process, see the locations and times of open houses in your neighborhood:
| Eastside - Aug 17 |
Copernicus Community Center 5003 Lord Rd. | 5:30pm-7:30pm |
| North Eastside - Aug 21 |
The Tool Yard 10303 Tool Yard | 7:00pm-8:00pm |
| Central - Aug 22 |
Central Library 600 Soledad Street | 5:30pm-8:00pm |
| Southside - Aug 26 |
(Evento en espanol) Pearsall Park 4838 Old Pearsall Rd. | 9:00am-12:00pm |
| Westside - Aug 28 |
Garza Community Center 5627 Mira Vista | 5:30pm-7:30pm |
The FY 2018 budget was presented to City Council Thursday, August 10, and it is projected to be adopted on September 14 for the October 1 fiscal year start date.
More information on the recommended budget, including a timeline of its formal adoption, can be found at the City of San Antonio’s website
https://www.sanantonio.gov/Budget or at the SASpeakUP website
https://www.saspeakup.com/
