San Antonio City Council Adopts $4.4 Billion FY 2027 Budget to Close $158M Deficit as SAWS Advances $2.6B Water Plan

City Council Approves $4.4 Billion Fiscal Plan in 7-4 Vote

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Following weeks of intensive budget work sessions and community input hearings, the San Antonio City Council formally voted 7-4 in late September 2026 to adopt a $4.4 billion municipal budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The adopted budget successfully eliminates a projected $158 million revenue deficit, preserving foundational city operations through a balanced strategy of expenditure reductions and revenue realignment.

To close the gap, municipal leadership enacted $90 million in operational spending cuts, adjusted $34.8 million in departmental fees, and approved the city's first property tax rate adjustment in more than three decades—moving the tax rate from 54.159 cents to 56.288 cents per $100 of taxable valuation.

Safeguarding Vulnerable Homeowners and Essential Services

City finance officials clarified that the property tax adjustment represents an estimated $2.95 monthly difference for the typical median homeowner with a standard homestead exemption. Crucially, the council maintained intact its long-standing property tax freeze for senior citizens and disabled homeowners, ensuring fixed-income residents remain protected from economic pressure.

The budget guarantees uninterrupted funding for the San Antonio Police Department and San Antonio Fire Department, supporting scheduled cadet academy training classes, while maintaining capital resurfacing for neighborhood arterial streets, public library branch operations, and municipal park maintenance.

SAWS Advances $2.6 Billion Capital Improvement Program

Alongside the municipal budget adoption, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) advanced critical procurement and construction contracts under its multi-year $2.6 billion Capital Improvement Program. SAWS engineering crews are replacing miles of legacy water mains and deploying acoustic sensor networks across the distribution grid to minimize treated water loss.

Civic leaders commended municipal staff for balancing fiscal accountability with sustained investments in public safety and infrastructure, positioning the Alamo City for enduring economic stability.