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San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones at a Feb. 12, 2026, City Council meeting.<\/p>\n
Katina Zentz\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has asked local business and philanthropic leaders to financially support organizations that have counted on city dollars to\u00a0trim a little from the city\u2019s nearly $160 million deficit over the next two years.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s the second such proposal Jones unveiled this week to cut city spending without affecting city services. On Tuesday, she suggested redirecting millions of sales tax dollars<\/a> that were raised for the Ready to Work job-training program to other projects.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Jones has said raising property taxes to generate more revenue is a \u201clast resort.\u201d City staff have proposed raising the tax rate<\/a> from 54 cents per $100 of assessed property value to almost 58 cents.<\/p>\n Both of Jones\u2019 proposals have taken City Hall by surprise, with the mayor announcing them via memo or letter \u2014 her preferred way of conducting city business.<\/p>\n Jones\u2019 Friday letter is addressed broadly to \u201cBusiness, Foundation, and Philanthropic Leaders.\u201d Chief of Staff Andrew Fuentes has not responded to a request for the specific recipients.<\/p>\n Jones asks whether the leaders would consider \u201ca three-year funding commitment\u201d to match what the city gave 15 organizations this fiscal year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The organizations received a combined $6.5 million\u00a0this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 31.<\/p>\n