Development Services presents FY2026 budget; proposes staff freezes, fee increases and continued enforcement programs

Amin Thomas, director of Development Services, presented the department's proposed fiscal 2026 budget and described permit volume, inspection performance, enforcement priorities and several targeted programs, telling council the department aims to "partner with our community to build and maintain safer San Antonio."

Nut graf: The department proposed a total FY2026 budget of about $69.3 million (roughly $18.5 million in general-fund code-enforcement operations and $48.8 million in the enterprise fund for development-review functions), described a plan to freeze up to 42 vacant development positions to reduce costs, and requested $2 million for a multiyear residential streetlight program while highlighting the status of proactive apartment inspections, short-term-rental compliance work and a senior-assistance pilot.

Thomas told council the department remains accredited by national…