San Antonio City Council Evaluates $442M May 2027 Bond Proposal as Zoning Commission Prepares Decisive Data Center Rules

City Council Reviews Recommended $442 Million May 2027 Capital Bond

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Commencing long-range capital infrastructure planning inside Municipal Plaza, City Manager Erik Walsh presented the San Antonio City Council with a recommended $442 million general obligation bond program for the May 2027 municipal ballot in mid-October 2026. Designed deliberately to avoid any increase in secondary municipal property tax rates, the capital package channels targeted funding toward foundational street reconstructions, sidewalk completions, bridge repairs, and regional drainage facilities.

While certain council members voiced interest in exploring a larger bond capacity, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and municipal fiscal analysts recommended a disciplined package that delivers vital neighborhood improvements while safeguarding Bexar County taxpayers against escalating debt service burdens.

Zoning Commission and Council Finalize Data Center Regulations

Concurrently, the council held intensive briefings ahead of the municipal Zoning Commission's October 20 public hearing and City Council's scheduled October 29 floor vote on landmark data center zoning amendments. Led by District 6 Councilmember Ric Galvan, the proposed Unified Development Code (UDC) revisions establish strict 500-foot buffer distances between hyperscale facilities and residential neighborhoods, mandatory acoustic mitigation, and tree canopy preservation.

Crucially, all council members agreed on maintaining an absolute, non-negotiable statutory ban prohibiting hyperscale data centers from constructing over the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, safeguarding the primary drinking water source for millions of South Texans.

Balancing Economic Development with Natural Resource Preservation

Utility engineers from CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) briefed council members on grid stability and wastewater recycling programs. West Side neighborhood leaders commended the balanced approach, emphasizing that protecting the city's drinking aquifer while repaving neighborhood streets ensures sustainable metropolitan growth.