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Infrastructure

Community Voice

2027 general obligation bond size

City Manager Erik Walsh proposed a modest $442 million 2027 bond (smallest in decades) that avoids a further property-tax rate hike, while some council members from lower-income districts push for $1 billion or more to tackle drainage, streets, housing and other backlogs. Requests totaled $5.8 billion; the mayor's framework keeps the package at $442M with heavy priority for historically underinvested districts and no arena items, warning larger packages risk voter rejection in the May 2027 election.

How large should San Antonio's May 2027 bond package be?

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Sources

San Antonio Express-News — https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-2027-bond-spurs-arena-22452967.php
City Manager Erik Walsh proposed a modest $442 million general obligation bond (smallest in decades) that avoids another property tax rate hike. Some council members (especially from lower-income districts) push for $1 billion or more...
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-mayor-bond-plan-spurs-arena-22465440.php
Mayor’s framework: Keep at $442M; $75M for affordable housing; 85% of remainder (~$312M) to historically underinvested Districts 1–5... She warns larger packages risk voter rejection.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Approve $1B+ bonds focused on equity, housing, drainage and streets even if taxes rise
  2. Support a larger-than-$442M package targeted at underserved districts' backlogs
  3. Accept the proposed $442M bond that avoids a tax-rate increase
  4. Shrink the bond below $442M and fund only the highest-priority failed streets/drainage
  5. Oppose new bonds entirely and rely on pay-as-you-go or private financing

Stormwater fee increase

A possible stormwater fee increase (first since 2019, potentially 16%+ over years) is under discussion to fund drainage and flood projects outside the bond package, thereby freeing bond capacity for other needs. This sits within the larger affordability crisis of rising utility and tax costs facing residents.

Should San Antonio raise the stormwater fee to fund drainage and flood-control projects?

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Sources

San Antonio Express-News — https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-stormwater-fee-flood-projects-22458429.php
Possible stormwater fee increase (first since 2019; e.g., 16%+ over years) to fund drainage/flood projects outside the bond, freeing bond capacity.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Raise the fee substantially and add progressive or equity-based rate structures
  2. Approve a moderate multi-year stormwater fee increase for needed flood projects
  3. Consider a small increase only after exhausting other drainage funding sources
  4. Reject fee hikes and fund drainage solely through the bond or general budget cuts
  5. Lower or eliminate the stormwater fee and stop new local flood-control mandates