San Antonio manager unveils $4.04 billion FY2026 budget; council keeps tax rate unchanged

City Manager Eric Walsh presented the City of San Antonio’s proposed fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget — a $4.04 billion plan that would hold the city’s property tax rate steady — at a City Council meeting on Aug. 14.

“The tax rate is not changing and is staying the same,” City Manager Eric Walsh said as he opened the presentation, which begins the council’s 30-day review process ahead of a scheduled Sept. 18 adoption vote.

The proposal covers the city’s combined funds, including a $1.69 billion general fund (a 1.6% increase from FY2025) and a $1.1 billion capital budget. The council formally set the proposed maintenance tax rate at 33.009 cents per $100 of taxable value and the proposed debt-service rate at 21.15 cents per $100 (a combined 54.159 cents per $100), and scheduled the statutorily required public hearings on the budget and tax rate.

Why it matters: the plan balances slower revenue growth with targeted investments in public safety, homelessness services and infrastructure while proposing workforce adjustments and department reorganizations designed to limit cuts to core services.

Major figures and program highlights - Total proposed city budget (all funds): $4,040,000,000 (2.2% increase). - General fund: $1,690,000,000 (1.6% increase). - Authorized city positions: 13,723 (net decrease of 116 positions overall; 68 civilian positions proposed for reduction; 73 net additions in police and fire accounted mainly by new sworn positions and reallocations). - Compensation: a proposed 2% across-the-board increase for civilian employees; a 4% police increase (per collective bargaining agreement); an 8% firefighter increase (per collective bargaining agreement). The proposal also includes a 5% increase in civilian health premiums and a 10%…