San Antonio City Council will hold a special session Monday to decide whether voters should be sent back to the polls in November over the city’s proposed contribution to a new Spurs arena and a downtown development plan.
The proposal involves a $489 million city contribution. Council will vote on whether to put the city’s arena contribution before voters in November. This would be the second time in two years that voters would have a say on the issue. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is pushing for this after her defeat on the plan a year ago.
The city’s $489 million contribution would come partly from a project finance zone the city modified in 2025. The funding includes sales tax money that would normally go to the state, but that the city can instead use on venues, including the new Spurs arena. It also includes lease revenue generated by the arena once it is built.
Councilman Marc Whyte opposes calling a new election, saying it would be wasteful and cost too much at a time when the city is trying to reduce spending. The special session starts at 9am.