SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The San Antonio City Council will hold a special meeting Monday to decide whether to ask voters to approve the city’s $489 million contribution to a proposed $1.3 billion downtown Spurs arena, setting up another debate over the project and the city’s financial outlook.
The council must act before the state deadline for placing measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. A separate citywide vote is not legally required, and most council members previously considered the city’s contribution settled after Bexar County voters approved the county’s portion of the arena funding last November.
The Spurs’ ownership group spent more than $9 million campaigning during that election. The arena funding received just under 52% support among voters within San Antonio city limits.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has argued that city voters should separately decide whether to commit the city’s money because San Antonio’s financial situation has changed since the county election.
“Last November was the county’s vote on the county’s $311 million [arena contribution], but the city’s separate contribution, I think, is also deserving of a vote by city voters,” Jones said on TPR’s The Source this week.
Jones cited the city’s projected $158 million budget deficit and possible property tax increases as reasons for seeking a public vote.
“Last November we were not talking about raising property taxes, and now we are,” Jones said.
Jones needs six council votes to place the arena measure on the ballot. At least six of the council’s 10 members have expressed opposition to the proposal so far.
Jones previously sought another ballot measure that would allow the city to redirect money from Ready to Work, a voter-approved job training program, to address the budget deficit. City staff said this week that only about $4.5 million of the program’s $120 million could be redirected.
Jones subsequently said the council should consider restructuring the program instead. That proposal is not on Monday’s agenda.
A third potential November ballot measure involving continued funding for Pre-K 4 SA is scheduled for consideration during the council’s regular meeting Thursday.
Jones’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening.
