{"id":449261,"date":"2026-09-27T11:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T11:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/449261\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T11:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T11:36:13","slug":"counting-the-costs-a-running-tally-of-increased-local-taxes-and-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/449261\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting the costs: A running tally of increased local taxes and fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the third story in a series about the way taxes, utility rates and fees are rising in San Antonio and Bexar County. You can read the first story here<\/a> and the second story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A slew of local taxing entities are raising their tax rates for the first time in many years \u2014 at the same time city-owned utilities are also closing in on potential rate hikes.<\/p>\n

The San Antonio Report has been tracking what it all means for the average homeowner, who could pay $129 more per year so far in property taxes and other fees, according to our analysis at the conclusion of budget season.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t include a likely rate hike for the City of San Antonio\u2019s 2027 bond program<\/a>, which the council will consider in October, and a CPS Energy rate hike<\/a>, which doesn\u2019t yet have a formal estimate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In recent years, property owners have watched their valuations rise dramatically<\/a>, often leading to higher property tax bills even as municipalities lowered their rates<\/a> to stay under the state\u2019s revenue caps<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now the real estate market is softening<\/a> at the same time inflation is rising<\/a>, and an array of new state and local tax exemptions are keeping more taxable value off the rolls.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s left many Texas cities, counties and school<\/a> districts debating tough spending cuts and rate hikes as revenue comes in far below expectations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are hard decisions,\u201d San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh said in a Sept. 15 media briefing. \u201cYou\u2019re seeing city councils in big cities and small towns across the state wrestling with the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The City of San Antonio landed on a plan<\/a> to cut $90 million in spending over the next two years, while also raising its tax rate by 3.4% in 2027. Another 4.4% rate hike is anticipated in 2028 to close an overall $158 million deficit.<\/p>\n

Bexar County avoiding raising rates this year by dipping into its reserve funds<\/a> to close a deficit, but commissioners openly acknowledge it\u2019s not a solution they can continue for very long.<\/p>\n

Many San Antonio-area school districts also face deficits<\/a> this year thanks to shrinking enrollment and state funding changes. Five school districts are asking voters<\/a> to increase their tax rates or approve bond elections to raise revenue in November, while some are even doing both at the same time.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s as San Antonio\u2019s two city-owned utilities, CPS Energy<\/a> and San Antonio Water System, are also gearing up for rate increases, with leaders saying the cost of their estimated needs will keep rising the longer they wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can look at this [city] property tax rate increase and be like, \u2018Okay, $37 a year. It\u2019s not a big deal,\u2019\u201d Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito (D7) said at Metro SA Chamber\u2019s City Vision event on Monday.\u00a0 \u201c[But] it is a big deal when we\u2019re looking at a potential SAWS rate increase coming up to us in October, when we\u2019re looking at the school districts increasing their tax rate, [and] when the San Antonio River Authority is increasing their tax rate. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur residents are feeling the burden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the San Antonio Report first analyzed<\/a> the rate discussions taking place across the various taxing entities and utilities in June, the projected additional annual cost of taxes and fees for the average homeowner has decreased slightly, from about $168 per year to nearly $129.<\/p>\n

The city backed off early plans to raise rates as high as legally allowed<\/a> without voters\u2019 permission, but could soon come back with another increase to allow for a bigger bond election<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Changes to school taxes are outlined below, but also weren\u2019t included in the total because the county is split between so many districts and only some of them are raising rates this year.<\/p>\n

City of San Antonio<\/p>\n

M&O property taxes<\/p>\n

City Council approved a 3.9% property tax increase<\/a> this year \u2014 the city\u2019s first in more than 30 years. That\u2019s in addition to major budget cuts and increased fees that were still needed to close a $158 million deficit over the next two years.<\/p>\n

City leaders expect another 4.4% rate increase will be needed in fiscal year 2028.<\/p>\n

Several months ago, Walsh was calling to raise taxes<\/a> as high as the city can legally raise them without having to call an election and seek permission from voters.<\/p>\n

\"\"San Antonio City Hall Credit: Brenda Baz\u00e1n \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

He later scaled back that request, saying the city needed more wiggle room in future budgets if the economy doesn\u2019t turn around \u2014 and therefore shouldn\u2019t max out the state\u2019s growth cap in a single year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

City Council was deeply conflicted about whether to raise taxes<\/a>, in part because some members thought there was more room to cut.<\/p>\n

But after viewing an outline<\/a> of the additional programs they could lose, a majority of the members decided<\/a> deeper spending cuts would be more disruptive to their residents than a tax increase \u2014 though the vote was split largely along the city\u2019s socioeconomic lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[With a tax increase], the majority of our revenues will come from the largest businesses and corporations, the people who own and maintain larger and multiple properties, the people who have larger homes,\u201d said Eastside Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2), who voted in favor of the rate hike. \u201cIf we implement any further cuts \u2026 the impacts will fall in Districts 1 through 5 \u2014 some of the most impoverished in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the tax increase and spending cuts, the new city budget uses an array of new or increased fees<\/a> to generate additional revenue, including higher towing and impound fees, more expensive ambulance rides and new charges for nonresidents who use city libraries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This budget also delayed the hire of new police officers<\/a> that many council members consider crucial.<\/p>\n

Current tax rate: The city\u2019s total tax rate is currently $0.541590 per $100 of property valuation, including both the maintenance and operation and debt service portions of the bill.
\u00a0
How much? The new rate for 2027 is set at $0.56288<\/a> per $100 of valuation \u2014 a 3.9% increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The official city budget proposal shows<\/a> the property tax bill for the average homestead, valued at $234,000, going up about $2.95 per month, or $36 per year.<\/p>\n

Properties without a homestead exemption \u2014 including rental properties, second homes and businesses \u2014 are likely to see a bigger increase.<\/p>\n

Tax rates are frozen for people 65 years and older, as well as those who have a disability, if they have a homestead exemption on their property. That applies to about 47% of San Antonio households, which won\u2019t see an increase on their bills, according to the city. The city\u2019s 2027 Taxpayer Impact Statement can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The City Council only increased the maintenance and operation portion of the tax rate, which covers day-to-day operations at the city, while leaving its discussion about the debt service portion for a meeting later this fall.<\/p>\n

The new tax rate allows the city to take in more in property taxes than the previous year by about $20 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n

San Antonio has been stopping short of maxing out its revenue increases, allowing the city to roll over some of that \u201cunused increment\u201d from FY 2025 and FY 2026 this year, without hitting the state\u2019s cap. The city will be able to do the same in FY 2028 by using the unused increment from FY 2027.<\/p>\n

City bond<\/p>\n

The debt service portion of the city\u2019s tax rate remains the same for now, but that could change as the city seeks to increase its bond capacity in 2027<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when the sports and entertainment district known as Project Marvel is competing for funding with other critical infrastructure projects<\/a>. The council will debate its strategy for the debt service portion of the tax rate separate from the city budget, starting with a meeting in October.<\/p>\n

Bonds are money borrowed against future growth, something that\u2019s normally reliable in a fast-growing city.\u00a0But slowed economic growth and dropping property valuations<\/a> now have city staff projecting San Antonio\u2019s capacity will be much smaller than the $1.2 billion bond voters passed in 2022 \u2014 down as far as $450 million, according to the latest projections<\/a> for 2027.<\/p>\n

Against that backdrop, city staff is recommending<\/a> the council expand its bond capacity by setting what\u2019s known as a variable debt rate strategy, where rates go up or down as needed based on property valuations.<\/p>\n

The debt service portion of the tax rate hasn\u2019t changed since 2004, and council would be giving staff permission to raise it as high as is needed to repay bonds issued for major projects. Alternatively, the debt service rate could go down if valuations rose dramatically, which leaders are not projecting to happen any time soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the current forecast, a bond program comparable in size to the 2022 program would require a tax rate increase to meet the bond repayment obligations,\u201d Troy Elliott, the city\u2019s chief financial officer, told the council in May<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Current rate: The debt service portion of the tax bill<\/a> is currently set at $0.21150 per $100 of valuation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much? Using a \u201cvariable rate,\u201d City Council could go for a 2027 bond that\u2019s comparable to the $1.2 billion voters approved in 2022, according to a Jan. 21 presentation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear what that would do to the average resident\u2019s bill, but it\u2019s notable that the 2022 bond occurred during a period of unusual economic growth.<\/p>\n

\"\"San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh speaks with constituents during a city council meeting in May. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Stormwater fee<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the year, city leaders said they would also look at increasing the stormwater fee<\/a> on residents\u2019 water bills<\/a> to help fund flood and drainage infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This could be a way to fund critical flood projects at a time when the city hasn\u2019t received much state or federal funding to help pay for them, but it wasn\u2019t included in the 2026-2027 budget proposal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Water in the San Antonio River surges near the River Walk trail by Confluence Park in San Antonio. Credit: Diego Medel \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Parks and environmental fee<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s budget proposal called for<\/a> increasing the parks and environmental fee collected on residents\u2019 CPS Energy bills, which helps fund tree maintenance and operate the city\u2019s park system. <\/p>\n

Two years ago, the city took some heat for pulling money<\/a> from its tree canopy fund and using it to landscape a gorilla enclosure at the San Antonio Zoo.<\/p>\n

This year money is moving around again. The city\u2019s budget review identified \u201cinefficiencies\u201d to cut spending in the parks and environmental fund, but staff also plans to move some general fund expenses over and pay for them through those restricted dollars. The details are outlined<\/a> in a Sept. 9 presentation.<\/p>\n

Current fee: San Antonio\u2019s parks and environmental fee is currently $2 per month.<\/p>\n

How much? The budget proposal calls for raising the rate to $2.25<\/a> in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and $2.50 per month the following year.<\/p>\n

Trash fee <\/p>\n

The 2026-2027 budget proposal calls for raising the solid waste fees<\/a> on residents\u2019 CPS Energy bills to keep up with growing costs of services. <\/p>\n

This is a new fee added since our first roundup, which would show up as both a higher monthly bin fee and a higher monthly environmental fee.<\/p>\n

Current fee: Trash bin fees vary by size, ranging from $14.75 per month for a small 48-gallon cart to $20.26 per month for a medium 64-gallon cart, to $30.75 per month for a large 96-gallon cart.<\/p>\n

The environmental fee is currently $3 per month.<\/p>\n

How much? The budget proposal calls for raising cart fees by 75 cents per month, regardless of the size. <\/p>\n

That would bring them up to $15.50 per month for a small 48-gallon cart, $21.01 per month for a medium 64-gallon cart and $31.50 per month for a large 96-gallon cart. <\/p>\n

The environmental fee would go up to $3.25 per month.<\/p>\n

Combined, the total cost would be about $1 more per month for a household with one bin, or $12 per year.<\/p>\n

Bexar County<\/p>\n

Bexar County property taxes<\/p>\n

Bexar County leaders reported the worst financial year<\/a> since the 2008 market crash headed into this budget cycle, with declining property values leaving the county with less revenue than the previous year without a rate hike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t often experience a literal drop in property tax revenue,\u201d County Manager David Smith told commissioners headed into this budget season. \u201cWe\u2019ve experienced declining growth. We\u2019ve experienced stagnant growth. But a literal drop \u2014 even though it\u2019s a small one \u2014 is unusual for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith presented a budget<\/a> that kept the rate even by freezing new capital projects, forgoing cost of living pay increases for the county\u2019s roughly 5,000 employees, and taking about $68 million from the county\u2019s rainy day fund \u2014 something he conceded is unsustainable long term.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai speaks during a County Budget Town Hall in Precinct 1 at the Harlandale Community Center on June 1, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Commissioners largely adopted those recommendations<\/a> and slashed staff<\/a> from a new health department the county stood up several years ago with pandemic relief funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smith, who is retiring this year<\/a> after his 30th county budget cycle, said the county will likely need a rate increase in the near future to fund major infrastructure needs for roads and flood control in the fast-growing unincorporated parts.<\/p>\n

Current rate: Bexar County\u2019s current tax rate is $0.276331 per $100 of valuation.<\/p>\n

How much? Since property values have gone down<\/a>, keeping the rate even means the average Bexar County home could pay less in property taxes this year.<\/p>\n

Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti said the average Bexar County home with a taxable value of $266,000 \u2014 after applying the homestead exemption \u2014 will see a $9 decrease in its annual property tax bill, or 75 cents per month.<\/p>\n

Alamo Colleges District<\/p>\n

Alamo Colleges District, which includes all Bexar County taxpayers, approved an 8.76% tax rate increase<\/a> this year\u00a0 \u2014 its first in more than a decade.<\/p>\n

A tax rate increase of that size does not require voter approval, only a board supermajority, which it received in September.<\/p>\n

\"\"Josiah Rodriguez, a political science student at San Antonio College, serves as a student trustee on the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Trustees initially thought the increase would be lower<\/a>, but the district\u2019s growth continues to outpace its revenue, with tuition and fees frozen at the state level, and state revenue is falling short by millions of dollars for the upcoming academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That contributed to a $27 million budget deficit headed into its 2027 budget cycle.<\/p>\n

Current rate: Alamo Colleges\u2019 current tax rate is $0.149 per $100 of valuation.<\/p>\n

How much? The new tax rate for fiscal year 2027 will be $0.167 per $100 of valuation.<\/p>\n

For homeowners, the increase will result in a $37 annual increase for homes valued at $270,000, the current median home value, or $48 more annually for a home valued at $320,000.<\/p>\n

Hospital district<\/p>\n

Bexar County Hospital District, which does business as University Health, has kept its tax rate steady for several years. A University Health spokesperson said the tax rate will remain the same this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly 16% of University Health\u2019s revenues came from property taxes in 2025,\u201d University Health spokesperson Elizabeth Allen said. \u201cThe rest was from patient revenues, private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and other payment programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The public hospital system is in the process of getting three new hospitals<\/a> up and running. University Health\u2019s budget is managed by a seven-member board of managers appointed by the Commissioners Court. The organization runs on a January to December budget cycle.<\/p>\n

Current rate: $0.276235 per $100 of valuation.<\/p>\n

How much? No increase.<\/p>\n

San Antonio River Authority<\/p>\n

The San Antonio River Authority is responsible for managing the San Antonio River Basin, and in the face of a deadly flood last year, continues to face big pressure executing major flood mitigation and response efforts.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it\u2019s expected to bring in less revenue this year \u2014 leading the board to approve a tax increase<\/a> for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n

\"\"A flood gate arm lowers across a roadway during a demonstration of Bexar County\u2019s upgraded \u201cNextGen\u201d flood warning system on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Credit: Diego Medel \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

The agency collects revenue from several sources, including property taxes from a four-county jurisdiction made up of Bexar, Karnes, Wilson and Goliad counties.<\/p>\n

Last year, Bexar County leaders gave it an additional $21 million<\/a> to fund the River Authority\u2019s NextGen flood warning system \u2014 a response to the summer\u2019s flood deaths \u2014 but the agency had to raise taxes<\/a> so it could fund the same efforts in the other three counties, said Deputy General Manager Rick Trefzer.<\/p>\n

Trefzer initially said they wouldn\u2019t need another tax increase this year, but after property valuations were finalized, the agency was poised to bring in $900,000 less than the previous year if it kept rate the same.<\/p>\n

Some also feared that if they waited, state lawmakers could change laws currently allowing them to grow their revenue at a higher rate than cities and counties.<\/p>\n

Current rate: The River Authority\u2019s current rate is at $0.0183 per $100 valuation. <\/p>\n

How much? The River Authority\u2019s board approved a 5.46% increase<\/a> for fiscal year 2027, bring its rate to $0.01930 per $100 valuation.<\/p>\n

For the average home in the river authority\u2019s four-county jurisdiction, valued at \u00a0$326,888 with a homestead exemption, that\u2019s expected to result in a $2.77 increase per year, according to a River Authority spokeswoman.<\/p>\n

Utilities<\/p>\n

San Antonio Water System (SAWS)<\/p>\n

SAWS had to pivot after its initial plan to invest in its infrastructure was voted down<\/a> by San Antonio City Council in June. The utility knocked off $600 million from its initial proposal and its board members approved a lower $2.6 billion plan<\/a> at the beginning of the month.<\/p>\n

Projects range from replacing water mains and upgrading pump stations to retrofits of water recycling plants.<\/p>\n

To pay for it, SAWS wants to raise rates starting in January<\/a> and push back its schedule for the rate adjustment by a year. That means it would run from 2027 to 2030 instead of 2026 through 2029.<\/p>\n

For 2027 and 2028, the rate change would remain the same as what SAWS proposed to City Council in June, but SAWS officials said delaying the rate adjustment<\/a> meant it was more likely to increase in the last two years of the plan.<\/p>\n

At an Aug. 4 meeting<\/a>, utility officials said the average residential monthly bill would be $16.93 more expensive than today by 2030 \u2014 as opposed to the $14.90 per month increase they were previously looking at.<\/p>\n

But the council remained divided on the issue when it came up for a vote in July, so the final decision isn\u2019t expected until October<\/a> \u2014 potentially increasing the cost of some of the projects and, therefore, the cost of a potential rate adjustment.<\/p>\n

\"\"The San Antonio Water System headquarters at Stadium Drive on June 10, 2026 Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Current: The last time SAWS raised rates was in 2020, taking the average monthly residential water and sewer bill from $65.83 to $72.38, according to the utility.<\/p>\n

How much? The latest plan<\/a> presented to the City Council would raise the average residential bill by $3.91 per month, or\u00a0$46.92 per year, in the first year after it\u2019s implemented.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bills would continue to increase gradually over the coming years, and SAWS could use a range of available rate increases \u2014 from 5.5% to 7% in 2029 and 5% to 6.6% in 2030 \u2014 to meet their needs. Officials said because of the City Council delay, the increases in those years were more likely to be at the top end of that range.<\/p>\n

The utility estimates that the average residential bill would climb $16.93 per month, or $203.16 per year, by 2030.<\/p>\n

SAWS has a rate calculator<\/a> on its website that allows customers to see how their own bills would change, though it requires the customer to pull some technical information from the second page of their bill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CPS Energy<\/p>\n

CPS Energy is also talking about a potential rate increase in the coming year, after its board approved a fiscal year 2027 budget<\/a> that includes a $50 million shortfall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That gap could be funded by a rate increase, the utility said, but the City Council hasn\u2019t agreed to it yet. CPS Energy officials had planned to look at its rates again at the end of summer, but has since changed leadership.<\/p>\n

\"\"The CPS Energy headquarters at 500 McCullough Ave. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

How much? The utility has been downplaying the potential rate hike as a possibility \u2014 not a done deal.\u00a0But Councilman Edward Mungia (D4) told the San Antonio Report<\/a> in March that it could be as much as a 4% increase on ratepayers.<\/p>\n

At a June board meeting, CPS Energy officials touted an average monthly bill<\/a> of $191.77 as being lower than other Texas cities.<\/p>\n

A 4% increase would raise that monthly bill by $7.67 \u2014 meaning the average household pays a total of $92.04 more per year. But since CPS Energy has not yet committed to an increase or said how big it would be, our calculations left it out until there\u2019s more clarity.<\/p>\n

CPS Energy says it will know more about its financial status after the summer, when it typically makes money by selling energy onto the grid.<\/p>\n

School districts<\/p>\n

For many Bexar County taxpayers, school property taxes could also go up this year.<\/p>\n

So-called voter-approved tax rate elections, or VATREs, increase tax rates on the maintenance and operation side, unlocking extra dollars a school district can use on day-to-day costs like pay, student programs and utilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bonds increase tax rates on the interest and sinking side to pay for infrastructural projects like HVAC and building renovations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Five districts have already announced plans to raise taxes if they\u2019re able to get permission from voters, and two are pursing VATREs and bond elections at the same time.<\/p>\n

Northside ISD<\/p>\n

Northside ISD is asking voters to approve a 3-cent tax increase<\/a> and an $883 million bond election in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The district says the proposed tax increase would unlock an extra $21.5 million for\u00a0pay increases<\/a>\u00a0for teachers and auxiliary staff, some of which make less than $15 an hour.<\/p>\n

On the bond side, NISD is proposing an $886.2 million package to pay for new vehicles and technology, facility improvements and a new natatorium.<\/p>\n

How much? If voters approve the VATRE, their tax rate would go from $1.0049 to $1.0349 per $100 of taxable property value.\u00a0The district said that would increase property tax bills by approximately $30 per year for every $100,000 in home value. <\/p>\n

The bond proposals don\u2019t require a change in the rate. <\/p>\n

San Antonio ISD<\/p>\n

San Antonio ISD officials are pitching a 3.17-cent tax increase and a $600 million bond election in November. <\/p>\n

San Antonio ISD is facing a budget deficit because of declining enrollment, largely flat state funding and rising costs. More than a century old, the district also has several small and aging buildings, increasing their maintenance costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Only a few months ago, SAISD felt positive it could go out for a bond of $450 million without requiring<\/a> a tax rate increase. District leaders instead opted for a larger ask, which would incur a 6-cent increase to the I&S rate, implemented over the next three years.<\/p>\n

How much? If the voter-approval tax rate election and all three bond measures pass, SAISD\u2019s tax rate would go from $1.1552 to $1.6437 per $100 of taxable value by 2030 for homeowners in the district.<\/p>\n

For an average home of $240,000, that would be approximately $70 more annually, or $5.83 per month.<\/p>\n

South San Antonio ISD<\/p>\n

South San Antonio ISD will ask voters to increase its maintenance and operations rate by 7 cents this November.<\/p>\n

This would generate an extra $2.7 million a year the district says is needed for\u00a0urgent school roof repairs<\/a> and raises for paraprofessionals, teaching and instructional aides.<\/p>\n

South San ISD is currently under state control after years of financial mismanagement and board dysfunction. While not in a budget deficit, state-appointed superintendent Raul Hinojosa has been pushing for the rate increase to generate extra dollars for pay, facilities and student programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much? The district\u2019s\u00a0current tax rate<\/a>\u00a0is $1.1959 per $100 of taxable property value. That rate is divided in two smaller rates: $0.4990 on the I&S side and $0.6960 on the M&O side.\u00a0<\/p>\n

South San\u2019s proposed increase, which will likely show up as Proposition A on the ballot, moves pennies from the I&S side to the M&O side and incurs a small increase overall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

District officials say the change to the tax rate wouldn\u2019t significantly increase costs for the average homeowner.<\/p>\n

East Central ISD<\/p>\n

After going out for a VATRE that voters\u00a0rejected<\/a>\u00a0last November, East Central ISD will be back on the ballot with a smaller ask.<\/p>\n

One of few districts that\u2019s actually growing in enrollment, ECISD will ask voters to approve adding\u00a03.72 cents<\/a>\u00a0to the maintenance and operations rate, which could unlock an extra $8.47 million a year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To avoid a large increase, ECISD\u2019s board decreased its interest and sinking rate by 3.71 cents, so if voters approved the changes in November, their rates would go up by a fraction of a penny.<\/p>\n

ECISD officials say the extra money would help the district keep up with inflation, maintain a performance-based compensation plan, hire armed security officers and maintain or even reduce class sizes by hiring more teachers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much? If VATRE passes this year, ECISD\u2019s total tax rate would go from $0.9319 to $0.9320 per $100 of taxable value.<\/p>\n

For the average homeowner in ECISD, approval of Prop A will mean less than $1 a year difference, officials said.<\/p>\n

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD<\/p>\n

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, a semi-rural district on the far East Side of Bexar County, is proposing a 12-cent increase to its M&O rate, which could generate an additional $15 million a year for the district.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a larger ask than\u00a0last year<\/a>, when the district put a 6-cent VATRE on the ballot that voters ultimately rejected.<\/p>\n

District officials say the extra funds would go toward employee pay, staff retention and student programs like fine arts, career and technical education and athletics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much? If voters say yes, the district\u2019s tax rate would go from $1.0769 to $1.1969 per every $100 of taxable property value for homeowners in the district.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For an average home of $317,335, that would be approximately $216 more a year after homestead exemptions, or $18 per month.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement<\/p>\n

Last year, the City of San Antonio raised parking ticket prices<\/a>, as well as fees on alarms and permits, to shore up its budget. Further fee increases<\/a> were presented in this year\u2019s budget, expected to generate $30.4 million over the next two years.<\/p>\n

Bexar County just rejected a plan<\/a> to raise more revenue by writing more tickets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

County Precinct 3 Constable Mark Vojvodich also said he\u2019s also not going forward with a plan<\/a> to bring in revenue by signing up for an expanded federal immigration enforcement partnership<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How much? San Antonio\u2019s 2027 budget includes a long list of increased fees<\/a> on everything from ambulance rides to booted vehicles to parking tickets. That list was even expanded<\/a> in the final weeks to help pay for the cost of the City Council\u2019s budget amendments. They take effect Oct. 1.<\/p>\n

Methodology: This story contains San Antonio Report calculations built from leaders\u2019 public comments, presentations to the City Council, local school boards, the Alamo Colleges District board and other government entities. While the entities\u2019 definitions of an \u201caverage\u201d homeowner or ratepayer may vary, each increase cited is based off how local officials have said these changes will affect an average community member. <\/p>\n

Disclosure: The River Authority\u2019s Rick Trefzer serves as treasurer on the Texas Public Radio board of directors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is the third story in a series about the way taxes, utility rates and fees are rising…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":449262,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[57439,57440,698,10807,4805,24112,6547,82,84,13503,83,15661,3214,3215,96878,92,3028,7801],"class_list":["post-449261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-2026-2027-san-antonio-city-budget","tag-2027-bond-election","tag-bexar-county","tag-cps-energy","tag-icymi","tag-judson-independent-school-district","tag-northside-isd","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-isd","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-san-antonio-river-authority","tag-san-antonio-water-system","tag-saws","tag-south-san-antonio-isd","tag-top-story","tag-typedaily","tag-university-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449261\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}