SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County commissioners will review survey results and budget priorities on Tuesday as the county faces declining property tax revenue tied to a slowdown in the local real estate market, according to officials and a University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) poll.
Property taxes, which account for most of the county’s revenue, have supported a budget that has reached about $3 billion in recent years. County officials are now assessing spending priorities amid lower property values and reduced tax collections.
The UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research surveyed nearly 3,000 residents on county spending priorities and will present the findings at a 9 a.m. Tuesday commissioners court meeting.
The survey found that respondents ranked road and bridge maintenance as the top priority for county spending, followed by parks, creeks and trails, and county facilities.
When asked how to address a potential budget shortfall, 47% of respondents said commissioners should reduce spending to balance the budget. About 41% said officials should combine spending cuts with tax increases, while more than 6% supported raising taxes alone. The remaining respondents said they were unsure.
The survey also found that 64% of respondents supported reducing spending to pay down county debt more quickly, while 25% favored maintaining the current debt repayment plan.
Bexar County carries about $2.4 billion in total debt, or about $1,651 per resident, the highest per-capita county debt level in Texas.
Despite concerns over debt, 52% of respondents said funding county services and programs should take priority over debt reduction, compared with 38% who prioritized paying down debt. The remainder cited maintaining reserves or were unsure.
Respondents also identified public health services, economic development, and affordable housing as areas where the county should increase spending.
More than half a million residents live in Bexar County outside San Antonio city limits.
Commissioners are expected to begin detailed budget workshops and hearings in the fall. The final county budget and property tax rate will be approved before the next fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
