How we got here
During previous budget discussions, the proposed tax rate was split between lowering to $0.419382 per $100 valuation or going with the rate staff proposed at $0.519382 per $100 valuation.
Council members Ashton Bulman, Bernard Rubal and Phil Vaughan were advocating for the reduction of the tax rate, which would reduce the proposed budget by around $200,000.
Council members Lori Putt, Bear Goolsby and Christina Fitzpatrick were in favor of the budget and rate proposed by city staff.
The rate drafted by Goolsby and Vaughan met in the middle of the two rates, bringing it to $0.51382 per $100 valuation. This rate would reduce the budget by $100,000.
“I think the spirit of compromise is a really strong message, and I do think there is value in really considering that,” Fitzpatrick said.
What they’re saying
City Council approved the proposed rate in a 5-1 vote, with Rubal against the motion, asking City Council to consider that the council serves the citizens first.
“Do we serve the city or do we serve the residents?” Rubal said. “I am against the compromise within the budget.”
Rubal asked City Manager Kim Turner if the budget could be cut by 1% without affecting critical services or the needs of the residents.
Turner said the police, fire and public works departments make up 74% of the budget, and a reduction of 1% could result in a budget item from those departments getting postponed to a future budget.
“If you want us to go with the Goolsby-Vaughan rate, we’ll make it happen,” Turner said. “But you have to have some trust in [staff] to do that to determine if there is something in [the budget] that can be postponed.”
Mayor Tom Maxwell said it is the responsibility of the City Council to serve the residents, but it is also their responsibility to give city employees what they need.
“What Mr. Rubal said is true, but we also are responsible for the employees that work for us in the city,” Maxwell said.
The impact
According to the San Antonio Board of Realtors' June data, the median home sales price in the 78148 ZIP code was $301,000. A home at this value would pay around $1,546.60 in city property taxes.
While the rate is a decrease from the previous rate, homeowners may still see an increase in total taxes paid due to increases in home appraisal values.
Appraisal information can be found through the Bexar County Appraisal District or Guadalupe County Appraisal District.
City Council is scheduled to approve the tax rate to support the fiscal year 2024-25 budget on Sept. 3.
