San Antonio City Council Approves First Property Tax Increase in Decades

The San Antonio City Council recently voted 7-4 to approve a 3.9% property tax increase, the first for the city in more than three decades. This decision, made on Thursday, September 17, 2026, comes as San Antonio faces a $158 million budget deficit over two years, exacerbated by slowed economic growth. The increase is intended to prevent further cuts beyond the $90 million already planned, which city officials feared would disproportionately impact vulnerable residents and essential services like senior centers, libraries, and youth programs.

The vote revealed a split among council members, largely along socioeconomic lines, with representatives from less affluent districts supporting the measure to protect services. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, along with three other council members, opposed the tax hike and the overall budget, advocating for deeper spending cuts instead. City Manager Erik Walsh had warned that rejecting the increase would necessitate an additional $75 million in cuts, a responsibility Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez called an "abdication of responsibilities."

For the average San Antonio home valued at $234,000 with a homestead exemption, the increase translates to an additional $35.43 annually. This policy shift indicates a focus on maintaining city services amidst financial challenges, impacting property owners and potentially influencing future development feasibility in the region.