Proposed San Antonio Budget Cuts: Scooter Patrol, Sunday Brush Drop-Off, Homeless Showers

Last updated: 2024/08/23 at 1:01 AM

San Antonio Urban Editorial Team Published August 23, 2024

City of San Antonio Facing Budget Cuts

SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio is grappling with a growing budget deficit, leading to proposed cuts and reallocations totaling tens of millions of dollars over the next two years.

The majority of these budget adjustments are centered around the city’s General Fund, which finances essential services like law enforcement, libraries, and street maintenance. Over the next two years, the city intends to reduce or transfer $36.6 million in spending, targeting areas such as scooter enforcement, boarding home inspections, and services for the homeless.

In addition to these cuts, the city plans to slash another $1.6 million from various funds with specific purposes. This includes discontinuing Sunday brush drop-off and converting downtown parking meters to Pay by App zones.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the planned reductions and reallocations for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year:

Scooter Patrol Overtime ($82,125): The city will no longer allocate Park Police overtime for enforcing scooter regulations in downtown San Antonio. This move comes as the need for oversight of electric scooters has diminished, with officers issuing only verbal warnings during their shifts, according to budget data.
Boarding Home Inspections ($215,188 and 3 positions): The Boarding Home Inspection team, originally created to ensure the safety of elderly and disabled residents, will be disbanded, as the number of operating facilities has significantly decreased.
Homeless Mobile Shower Unit ($62,478): The mobile shower initiative, aimed at providing hygiene services to the homeless, has seen limited success. The city plans to scale back this program while maintaining other resources for the homeless.
No Sunday Brush Drop-Off at Bitters ($58,182 & 1 position): The brush recycling center’s operating hours will be reduced, aligning with similar city facilities to improve efficiency.
Parking Meter Conversion ($30,097): The city aims to convert a portion of downtown parking meters to Pay by App zones, streamlining maintenance and repair costs.
Police Overtime for Alamodome Events ($1,037,288): Overtime costs for police presence at Alamodome events will be shifted to a separate budget line, with ticket surcharges helping to offset the expenses.
SPARK Parks Program ($220,000): Funding for parks built on school grounds will be eliminated, redirecting resources to other initiatives.
City Fee Waivers ($1,500,000): Fee waivers for development projects, such as affordable housing, will be reduced due to existing unused funds.

This restructuring reflects the city’s efforts to navigate fiscal challenges while prioritizing essential services and promoting financial sustainability.