The May 7 local elections, for San Antonio voters, will include the city’s biggest-yet bond issue—a nearly $1.2 billion proposal that mostly will fund infrastructure improvements citywide if approved by the electorate.
City Council on Feb. 10 voted 10-0 to advance the bond package and to call the May 7 special election. City officials said they will not propose a property tax increase to fund an approved bond.
“The community-driven 2022-27 bond program put before the voters will invest in the streets, sidewalks, drainage, parks, public facilities and housing of San Antonio,” City Manager Erik Walsh said.
“If approved by voters, these infrastructure improvements would be made without increasing the city’s property tax rate.
A citizen bond advisory committee appointed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and council members met several times for more than two months putting together individual projects, according to a city news release.
City officials said the bond is split into six propositions:
- streets, bridges and sidewalks—$471.5 million;
- drainage and flood control—$169.8 million;
- parks, recreation and open space—$271.9 million;
- library and cultural facilities—$58.3 million;
- public safety and health facilities—$78.2 million; and
- support for new affordable housing—$150 million.
The release said more than half of the total bond package will be dedicated toward improving existing streets and drainage features, and that $103.5 million would be invested in 21 planned miles of linear greenway trails.
The release also said the bond proposes improvements to 30% of the city’s parks and includes money to develop nine new park properties, two new fire stations and one new police substation.
Some of the projects proposed for north central San Antonio include $16 million to enhance Vance Jackson Road between Huebner and Wurzbach roads; $6 million to extend Sonterra Boulevard to Loop 1604; and $26.6 million total to rebuild what the city calls failed existing roads in council Districts 8, 9 and 10.
Additionally, city officials said the housing portion of the bond would help to transition homeless individuals to permanent housing and provide a focus on areas with older homes, high eviction rates and homes that are at risk of being demolished.
Nirenberg said while the city can only provide basic information about the proposed bond, a political action committee called Build SA will begin operations soon to campaign for bond passage.
Council members urged the city to hold public information meetings and provide bond details in other ways ahead of the May 7 election. Early voting will be held April 25-May 3, according to the state’s May 7 election calendar.
“San Antonians are encouraged to go to the polls for a community decision,” District 6 Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda said.
“Voter registration and participation should now be our main concern in the coming days, and I will ask for a briefing on the city's plans for voter outreach.”
