SAN ANTONIO — The City of San Antonio is evaluating a possible bond election for 2027 as officials prepare for a projected budget shortfall that may require a property tax rate increase and spending cuts.
City officials said San Antonio operates on a five-year bond cycle, with voters approving packages in 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022.
City staff said designing a new bond package would take about a year and would likely include categories for streets, bridges and sidewalks, drainage and flood control, parks, city facilities, and housing. The 2022 bond totaled $1.2 billion and included the city’s first dedicated affordable housing allocation.
As of April, the city reported that about 31% of 2022 bond projects have been completed, 34% are under construction, and the remainder are in design or have not started. Officials said several projects from the 2017 bond remain unfinished.
Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Director Veronica Garcia said more than 80% of the 2022 housing bond funds have been allocated. She said the program has supported more than 5,200 housing units produced or preserved, including nearly 1,200 units for households earning below 30% of the area median income.
City Council members discussed whether to separate proposals tied to a sports and entertainment district into a standalone ballot item. District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia said voters should have a clearer distinction between district-specific projects and citywide infrastructure funding.
City Chief Financial Officer Troy Elliott said separating the bond into geographic propositions would require duplicating multiple categories, potentially increasing the number of ballot items to about 10 propositions.
City Manager Erik Walsh said geographic separation of bond propositions is not common practice in other cities and said bond measures are typically structured citywide rather than by district.
District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran said separating projects by area could lead residents to view funding decisions as competition between parts of the city.
District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur said any separation of projects would require clear definitions to avoid confusion over which neighborhoods and infrastructure projects would be included.
If approved, the bond election would take place in May or November 2027, after the city determines its 2027 budget plan and potential tax rate changes.