SAN ANTONIO – Exciting news for San Antonio residents as the City Council gears up to vote on a $3.96 billion budget on Thursday morning. Despite its significant size, this budget introduces several cost-saving measures.
The budget includes provisions for adding 65 new police officers, increased funding for homeless camp cleanups, and additional resources for Animal Care Services. Additionally, the council will be voting on a new contract for San Antonio firefighters and paramedics, which includes substantial raises totaling over 21% over three years.
Curious to learn more? Check out the 5 key highlights of City of San Antonio’s nearly $4 billion budget proposal
Compared to the previous year’s $3.74 billion budget, the current budget stands at 5.8% larger. It’s broken down into three main parts:
- $1.67B – GENERAL FUND
- $860M – CAPITAL BUDGET
- $1.43B – RESTRICTED FUNDS
To address a budget deficit, the city strategically shifted or cut tens of millions of dollars in expenditures. Moreover, the city plans to raise various fees, from Alamodome parking to ambulance rides, to compensate for the increased spending.
Although there were minimal changes to the initial draft budget presented in August, the city plans to reduce funds allocated to VIA Metropolitan Transit and increase EMS transport fees to accommodate the new fire union contract.
Council members deliberated on final budget adjustments, highlighting the limited availability of funds for additional priorities in the coming years. With a projected deficit in FY 2026, the city is considering utilizing a portion of CPS Energy revenue to offset utility rate hikes.
For more insights into the FY 2025 budget, explore the full proposed budget on the City of San Antonio website.
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