Woe is me, I pay TOO much for taxes in Texas

After reading an article about a promised $2000 tax savings on property taxes that never materialized, and this quote from Tax Assessor/Collector Sylvia Romo who says

she routinely hears complaints about property taxes.

“I especially hear from out-of-state people — newcomers to San Antonio,” Romo said. “They are shocked because the property taxes are so high. Now they are paying in the thousands instead of hundreds” of dollars.

She added, “Welcome to Texas.”

I just felt that I needed to speak up.  Yes the article is correct that Perry's promise of a $2000 savings on property taxes never happened, but this last quote makes it sound like Texans pay high taxes.  Well our property taxes may be high in comparison to other states, BUT, we have no state income tax.

According to the Tax Foundation, Texas ranked 43rd with an 8.4% tax rate in State-Local tax burdens in 2008. The tax rate has gone up a whopping 0.3% since 1977.

Yes, I know, no one likes to pay taxes, but an awful lot of people like to complain about the things that government is not getting done.  Well, just remember, you get what you pay for.

Are Higher Property Taxes in Your Future?

The City of San Antonio was able to balance its 2011 budget without raising taxes, but many other jurisdictions weren't so lucky.  Here is a summary of property tax hikes that are done deals and possible tax hikes.

South San ISD 

South San Antonio ISD's board of trustees has approved an increase in the district's tax rate from $1.4338 to $1.4549 per $100 of property value, district spokesman Ed Suarez said.

Alamo Colleges

The half-cent property tax increase will raise the tax bill by $7 to a total of $205 on a house worth $145,424, the average home price in Bexar County this year.

City of Garden Ridge  (Comal County)

A preliminary tax rate of $0.262972 per $100 valuation was approved by the Garden Ridge City Council on Aug. 4, which would be an increase $0.008 cents from last year's rate of $0.254808.

 City of Castle Hills

Council also approved a property tax rate up to 50.134 cents per $100 valuation, the second such increase since 2003.

The proposed budget would raise more total property tax revenue than in the fiscal year 2010 budget by $197,996 or 8.8 percent, and of that amount, $14,156 is tax revenue to be raised from new properties added to the tax rolls.

University Health System

Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday tentatively approved a nearly 4 percent increase in the tax rate for the University Health System — which could boost next year's taxes on the average home by about $13 — to finish paying for a $900 million building program.

Possible Tax Hikes

Boerne ISD (Kendall County)

Trustees are set to vote Sept. 27 on adopting a property tax rate just over $1.31 per $100 in assessed property value, down from $1.33.

San Antonio ISD

The San Antonio Independent School District is about to embark on its largest bond campaign to date: a $515 million package that includes extensive renovations to 22 schools, districtwide technology and security upgrades, and a controversial $35 million for improvements to Alamo Stadium and the Convocation Center.

The tax impact of the bond proposal, if approved, would be phased in. Property taxes would begin increasing in 2012 and would peak in 2027, when the average homeowner, with property now valued at $80,882, would pay an additional $9.97 per month, according to the district. It would not increase taxes for senior citizens who have filed for exemptions.

Southside ISD

The Southside Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to call a tax rate election on Sept. 18.

Voters will decide whether to approve a tax rate change that could raise an additional $2.7 million for the district. District officials believe increasing one portion of the tax rate and decreasing another by the same amount would not raise the overall tax rate of about $1.37 per $100 valuation.

Officials have said that the swap of 13 pennies from one side of the tax rate to the other would raise millions because the state weights funding for certain portions of the tax rate.

Judson ISD

Judson's committee is considering a recommendation that would include construction of two new elementary schools, a new high school and renovations and upgrades to several other campuses.

The group has been considering a $341 million “wish list” and prioritizing those items, Judson board member and committee chairman Steve Salyer said.

 School boards have until Aug. 24 to decide whether to call for a November election.

If you are not sure what jurisdictions your property falls in check out the Bexar Appraisal District Property Search, the Comal Appraisal District Property Search, or the Kendall Appraisal District Property Search websites.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? School Districts in SA

Now we come to the government entity that receives the lion's share, or about half of your property taxes, your local school district.  There are 13 different school districts that lie within or partially within Bexar County. (There are three military school districts but these are supported by the U.S. Government.) Each district has its own taxing rate.

Alamo Heights ISD                            1.162
East Central ISD                                1.3195
Edgewood ISD                                  1.42
Harlandale ISD                                  1.479
Judson ISD                                        1.463
North East ISD                                  1.4029
Northside ISD                                   1.3375
San Antonio ISD                               1.2497
Schertz-Ciobolo-Universal City ISD   1.42
Somerset ISD                                   1.228     
South San Antonio ISD                     1.4338
Southside ISD                                   1.3689
Southwest ISD                                  1.2432

How do they figure your taxes?  Take the appraised value of your home as determined by the appraisal district then subtract any exemptions you may have (homestead, over 65) to arrive at the taxable value of your property. Next move the decimal place on the tax rate of your school district two places (i.e. change 1.162 to .01162, the tax rate is a percentage) and then multiply it by the taxable value.  If you don't want to go through all this rigmarole visit the Bexar Appraisal Website.  Type in your name, last name first and click search.  To find out information about your tax bill click View Details. You can find out your approximate tax bill by clicking on the taxing jurisdicition tab.

You may wonder how Alamo Heights can get away with such a low tax rate.  It has some of the highest appraised property in the city and it's a small district.   Also, why there is such a diversity in the size of districts?  Back in 1949, Bexar County was split up into independent school districts, mostly by population.  Nowadays Northside is the 4th largest district in student population in the state and has housing property values that range from the mid $30,000s to millions of dollars, but back in 1949 it was in the boonies where very few people lived, in fact the population was so sparse that part of the district extends into Bandera and Medina Counties.  But now Northside is growing so fast because of its desirability as a school distrtict, the varying property values and the large availability of vacant land for housing.

You probably can figure out some of the places your tax dollar goes: teacher and administrative salaries, new schools, new classrooms, technology, science equipment, gym and sports equipment and school books.  You might also want to add in security.  Most large school districts have their own police force to protect the students and to control drug use and violence.

Along with property tax money, school districts also receive federal assistance, usually based on the number of low income students they have.  Usually, the poorer the district, the more federal assistance they recieve.

School Financing in Texas has had a checkered history.  Probably the most fought over legislation was the Robin Hood Plan, or robbing the rich school districts to give money to the poor ones.

On May 28, 1993, the legislature passed a multi-option plan for reforming school finance. Under the plan, each school district would help to equalize funding through one of five methods: (1) merging its tax base with a poorer district, (2) sending money to the state to help pay for students in poorer districts, (3) contracting to educate students in other districts, (4) consolidating voluntarily with one or more other districts, or (5) transferring some of its commercial taxable property to another district's tax rolls. If a district did not choose one of these options, the state would order the transfer of taxable property; if this measure failed to reduce the district's property wealth to $280,000 per student, the state would force a consolidation. This plan was signed into law by Governor Richards on May 31, 1993, and was accepted by Judge McCown. The action guaranteed that schools would receive funding for the 1993–94 academic year. Many poorer school districts still challenged the constitutionality of the new law, however, and Judge McCown set September 1, 1993, as the deadline for them to file their complaints. In January 1995 the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the options plan was constitutional but that the legislature still needed to work on equalizing and improving school facilities throughout the state.

So, everything you always wanted to know about property taxes, but were afraid to ask.  My next series will explain everything you always wanted to know about Zoning.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Military Affairs

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

What do you know, almost done with the City of San Antonio.  There are other areas where money is spent but these are the largest budget items.

So, Military Affairs coordinates and facilitates the city's support for BRAC or the Base Realignment and Closure.  If you want to get a contract to work on the realignment, this is the place to go.  Military Affairs also helps military families relocate to San Antonio.

When military bases close, military assets are moved to other bases in the area to increase efficiency and reduce expenses.  In SA Fort Sam is the beneficiary of most of the assets and construction is taking place on the base to accomdate them.

Many of the former bases have been converted to civilian use for municipal airports (Bergstrom in Austin), housing developments, office parks and industrial parks.  Kelly AFB is now known as Port San Antonio.
As I talked about in an earlier post, the Port San Antonio airport will be used to handle industrial flights.  It also has a Railport for train traffic, existing buildings for office space, lots of land to build new office buildings, warehouses and even assembly buildings.

The entire former AFB (1900 acres) is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone which gives companies the ability to bring foreign parts into the base, destroy damaged peices, and assemble them and then pay the duty on the assembled parts once they leave the port.  Often the duties are lowered on an assembled product than its parts and no duty is paid on the damaged pieces.   

There is also a Commission on Veterans Affairs.

The Commission's mission is to serve the City Council in an advisory capacity on issues affecting the City's military population, both active and retired. It serves as the community's liaison and advocate for veterans' affairs; advises the City Council on issues affecting San Antonio veterans and their families; and makes recommendations for improving services.

The City of San Antonio has a long standing relationship with the military.  It is the largest employer in the city and the city works hard to keep them here.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Historic Preservation in SA

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.


The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

The citizens of the city of San Antonio were some of the first to realize the importance of historic preservation.  Check out this blog post at Wandering Off about an historical marker at the Alamo.  The marker memorializes probably one of the first sit-ins, long before the hippies thought of it. In 1893 Adina De Zavala barracaded herself into one of the long barracks on the side of the Alamo for three days to keep it from being demolished. 

The San Antonio Conservation Society, founded in 1924, is one of the oldest such organizations in the U.S.  This group of ladies were instrumental in saving most of the tourist spots we have in SA today, including the River Walk, The Witte Museum, the King William district, the Missions, La Villita and many others. 

With such a strong backing for historic preservation the city needed to come up with ways of protecting these areas.  The Historic Preservation department protects historical, cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources that make San Antonio unique through the creation of historic districts.  There are 26 historic districts in San Antonio that are regulated by the Historic Design and Review Board.  The board only reviews external changes to properties within an historic district, so interior changes are up to the owner, although you do have to apply for permits for any type of construction, fence changes and accessory buildings larger than 100 sq.ft. with the Development Services Department. 

If you live in an historic district, complying with the Historic Design and Review Board can be a pain, but SA's historic areas greatly contribute to the character and uniqueness of the city.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Community Initiative in SA

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

The Community Initiatives department is responsible for helping to form government-community agency partnerships to promote economic self-sufficiency, stonger families and to enhance the quality of life for children, families and seniors.  Community Initiatives promotes programs like Project Cool that provides fans for senior citizens, Making Connections, an Annie E. Casey foundation program that helps to improve the lives of children on the west side, Haven for Hope, the new homeless shelter campus that also provides job training and medical and dental services to help the homeless to become economically independent, and free smoke detectors. 

Community Initiatives also keeps tabs on agencies using government funds to make sure the money is being used properly.  If you represent a nonprofit agency that would like to partner with the city fill out the delegate agency form that applies to your mission.

Expecting Too Much From Government?

We live in a complex world, but for some reason we expect our government to be able to keep up with and respond to every new issue or disaster that comes along with the speed and efficiency of a quantum computer on hyperdrive. 

Richard Posner a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School who writes for the Becker-Posner Blog points this out very eloquently.

The reaction to the latest accident has been surprising. Oil spills and underwater drilling accidents are common, and despite the media hype it is too soon to tell whether this one will prove to be the biggest yet. The amount of oil leaked so far is substantially less than the amount spilled or leaked in previous accidents, including at least one in the Gulf of Mexico.

It is also surprising that so much criticism has been directed at the Obama Administration, and indeed against Obama personally. Most of the criticism is absurd—his failure to react emotionally, and his inability to “just plug the hole,” are not personal or professional failings. The Minerals Management Service in the Department of Interior does seem to have been asleep at the switch, but Obama unlike his immediate predecessor cannot be criticized as being hostile to regulation—if anything, he has too much faith in it. MMS is a small and obscure agency far below the horizon of a president’s supervision. No president can eliminate all pockets of incompetence in the vast federal government.

It is possible that the number of recent disasters has created a public sense that something is wrong with government: that it ought to be able to prevent all disasters. But this is an unrealistic expectation. Everything conspires against a government’s being able to protect its people against disasters, whether natural or man-made. A factor that retards prevention of man-made disasters is the rapid and relentless advance of technology. Regulation lags innovation. The Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and SEC were no more able to keep abreast of advances in financial engineering than MMS was to keep abreast of advances in drilling for oil at very great depths under water. Slack regulation encourages private companies to adopt a high-risk business model. Risk and return tend to be positively correlated, in finance because risky loans command higher interest rates and in underwater drilling because risk abatement is costly. Business is particularly reluctant to take preventive measures against unlikely disasters because they do not pose a serious near-term threat. If there is a 1 percent annual probability of a disastrous drilling accident or financial collapse, the probability that the disaster will occur any time in the next 10 years is only 10 percent. Business managers have finite planning horizons just like politicians.

T.R. Ferenbach, columnist for the San Antonio Express-News thinks there is plenty of blame to go around.  In his article Overly Demanding Voters Share Blame for Government Budget Disasters says

Sure, governments have spent too much and borrowed too much to do it [offer generous pensions and entitlement programs], deranging national and world financial structures. But why? Is this a run of collective insanity, or a case of simpletons in government screwing up that elusive concept, money?

I believe that the underlying problem is voting by people who do not understand democracy. They rush from dreams of omnipotence to the dregs of apathy. Democratic government cannot supply people with everything they want simply because they vote for it. The ballot does not create either wealth or jobs. Democratic government requires working out reasonable compromises between classes, regions, factions, which means no one is likely to get everything he thinks he deserves, all within what is possible, which means within a polity's means.

 Now in Texas many of us don't want our governments borrowing lots of money and spending it on entitlements.  We hate it so much we only allow balanced budgets.  But at the same time we also expect an awful lot of our local governments, or as the saying goes, we expect juice from a turnip.

As far as most Texans are concerned, we pay way too much money in taxes.  But wait a minute, Texas is 43rd in the nation in tax burden.  The states that have lower tax burdens than we do have no state sales tax.  We actually have a pretty good deal when it come to taxes.  The tax rate in San Antonio actually dropped between 1991 and 2008.  So not only are we paying less money based on the tax rate, we are also paying less based on inflation ($1.00 in 1991 cost $1.56 in 2008).  San Antonio is a growing city (over 600,000 new residents from 1991 to 2008) which adds to the tax base, but also adds to the number of roads that have to be maintained, the amount of fresh water that needs to be supplied, the changes to the landscape that effect flooding, the snarled traffic that needs to be addressed, etc, etc. A tight budget means that the city does what it can, so we have to be reasonable, the city is playing catch up, it may not be running as fast as we wished it would, but it's running as fast as it can.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Aviation in SA

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

The city of San Antonio operates two airports, San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport.  While most flights that the general air traveler will take will go through San Antonio International, Stinson Field caters to operators of light craft, individuals with their own planes and private aviation companies.

Stinson Field is the second oldest airfield in continuous operation in the US.  Not many people know that San Antonio was very important in the early days of aviation.  Stinson was opened in 1915 as a flying school for barnstormers.  In 1909, Fort Sam Houston was the first US Military base to have government owned aircraft and the home of the First Aero Squadron making San Antonio the birthplace of Military Aviation.

Airports are very important to the economic life of a city because many businesses won't open shop in a city unless it has good access to business and economic centers in other cities.  San Antonio's International Airport is sometimes faulted for it's inner city location, making it difficult to expand runways for more air traffic.   The planned expansion of the airport has dealt with this problem by moving the aerospace industrial complex, with its warehouse space, logistics/distribution center and business/office space to Kelly AFB thus freeing up more space for passenger airline traffic.  The airport's inner city location is a major plus for business and leisure travelers who don't want to spend a lot of time getting to their destination.

In the recent past it was actually cheaper to fly from Austin to major destinations but in the past year ticket prices for traveling from SA have dropped, showing that the city is once again in the mainstream of airline travel.

Noise is another problem that goes along with an inner city airport.  Just recently the FAA authorized the city to start the Residential Acoustical Treatment Program.  The city has assigned an Acoustical Treatment Consultant to prioritize neighborhoods that qualify for the program.  Acoustical retrofitting will then begin and continue in a rolling schedule similar to public works projects. If your residence qualifies, you can have your house acoustically treated to lower airplane traffic noise.  In the meantime if you have a problem now fill out the noise complaint form.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Economic Development in SA

A recap of the City of San Antonio budget.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

The city's Economic Development Department's job is to promote SA to out of town businesses and to be a booster of existing businesses.  The department does this by offering incentives to businesses to encourage employment growth.  Incentives come in a number of forms, tax abatements (lower taxes for a certain period), enterprize zone designation (recieve benefits for hiring 25% economically disadvantaged persons), industrial development bonds, health facility bonds, higher education facilities bonds, empowerment zone bonds, a Foriegn Trade Zone (allows manufacturers to import assembly parts free of duty and assemble them in the zone, and to reexport with no duties), Freeport Exemption (SAISD and Judson ISD exempt businesses from paying personal property taxes if they are dealing with goods-in-transit or inventories used in manufacturing) and Historically Underutilized Business Zones (assist businesses in the zones to win federal contracts). 

 Economic Development also assists small businesses in forming contracts with the city to complete the $550 million in bond improvement projects approved in 2007.  It also offers continuing education for small business owners and helps fund the South Texas Women's Business Center and the South Texas Business Fund.  The funds offer low interest loans to small businesses in SA. 

Where do your property taxes go? Neighborhood Services in SA

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

If your neighbor has trashed up his yard call (311) Neighborhood Services for code compliance.  The city's code violations include graffiti, vacant dangerous premises, zoning violations, illegal dumping, barbed wire and fences, minimum housing, front and side yard parking, illegal signs, illegal vehicle sales, junked vehicles, weeded vacant lots, garage sales, alley and right-of-way, vendors, hawkers and peddlers.  If you want to have a garage sale, don't forget your permit.  You are only allowed four garage sales per year, otherwise it's considered a business and not allowed in housing areas.
 
Along with keeping neighborhoods up to code, Neighborhood Services also offers financial assistance to homeowners who have been asked to improve their premisis but are unable to pay for it through owner occupied rehab and minor emergency home repair.  They also teach consumers about the home buying process.   Too bad more people didn't know about these classes before they bought a home with an ajustable rate subprime loan.
 
If you live in an historic district neighborhood services also has funding (up to $65,000) to help you fix up your home to the standards of the neighborhood.  If you own rental property there is low cost financing availble for major repairs.  Once the money is used the property must be rented to a low income family.
 
If your a home builder and you want to build low cost housing you  can put in a request-for-proposal to use developable surplus city property to build your development on.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Health Services

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

So 1% of the city of SA budget goes to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.  The Health District is responsible for food inspections of restaurants, school cafeterias, grocery stores and any establishment that requires a food license to operate.  It also operates the  Environmental Health and Wellness Center which is responsible for the childhood lead poisoning prevention program, and air quality.  It also established the public emergency preparedness program for bioterrorism attacks and outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases.

The Health District also runs dental clinics and health clinics that provide low cost immunizations for the flu and childhood vaccines.   It has also started the Steps to a healthier SA program to promote healthier life styles in SA.  The District is also responsible for insect control, issuing birth and death certificates, and running the Women, Infant and Child program (WIC)  , a supplemental nutrition program for low income families with young children.

Where Do Your Property Taxes Go? The Library

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

My favorite city service is the Library.  It's the best free thing you can do in San Antonio.  Not only can you do research or check out the latest novel, they have books on tape and CD, cookbooks, craft books, Movies, TV shows and How To videos on DVD and VHS, Music CDs, government documents, and now while you are visiting you can even check out a laptop with free wifi (or bring in your own laptop, the wifi is still free.)  There's always something going on at the library, from book clubs to computer training, check out the library calendar for all the events.

SA has several branch libraries scattered throughout the city and it's free for anyone living within Bexar County or if you own property or a business within the county, just bring in a picture ID and a proof of residence, property or business to get a library card.  If your homebound, you can still register for an account online.

You can even use the library at home.  Logon to the library website to search the catalog and place holds on books that can be picked up at the nearest local branch.  You can even check out a digital audio or ebook online without ever leaving home.  They have an online service for job hunters at the Tutor.com Career Center.  Tutor.com also has Live Homework Help for your student.  If you're into geneology check out the Texana/Geneology guides.  If you need information, check out the online databases.

I think the Library is well worth the $2.6 million the city spends on it.

Where Do Your Property Taxes Go? Parks and Recreation in SA

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

Parks & Rec recieves a 6% share of the city budget.  The city uses this money to maintain 255 existing municipal parks which include athletic fields, nature trails, skate plazas, outdoor and indoor pools, golfing, basketball courts, community centers, lakes, fishing, canoeing, play grounds, outdoor classrooms, picnic areas, jogging trails, fountains and water features, tennis courts, pavillions and gazebos, a YMCA center, gyms, boxing programs, sports leagues, botanical gardens, war memorials and dog parks.

The city also uses an 1/8% sales tax approved in 2005 to buy up property over the Edwards Aquifer to protect it from high density development.  This land is set aside as natural areas for hiking and nature appreciation.  This is very important to San Antonio because the aquifer is our predominant source of water.

The city is also building a series of Linear Creekway Parks that will eventually connect up throughout the city.
The creekway trails allow cyclists and walkers to  move through the city without encountering car traffic.

Parks & Rec also has an extensive series of activities that is presents throughout the year including:  talent shows, summer youth recreation programs, nature camps, flamenco performances, song and dance performances, concerts, movies, soft ball leagues, bicycle safety instruction, tennis leagues, dances, and festivals.

Where Do Your Property Taxes Go? City of San Antonio

A Recap of City of San Antonio revenues and spending. So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)

The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%). I will take you through each of these items in separate posts. If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.
(For links to all items in the CSA budget, see past posts.)

Streets and Infrastructue accounts for 7% of the City of San Antonio budget.  Infrastructure refers to drainage, sidewalks, traffic signals and alleys. 

The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance of 4000 centerline miles of primary and secondary streets (this doesn't include highways). The Public Works Department for the City of Los Angeles is responsible for 6,500 centerline miles of streets (which does include highways.)  When you consider that 3.8 million people live within the city limits of Los Angeles and only 1.4 million in the city of SA, that's 3/10 mile of streets for every person in SA versus 2/10 mile of streets per capita in LA.  This means that proportionately LA has a larger tax base and less streets. 

Seven percent of the 2010 budget is about $62 million which sounds like a lot of money, but  it costs $37,500 just to put down pavement markings on one mile worth of street. Street maintenance is expensive, but then you also have to include drainage, sidewalks, traffic signals and alleys. 

It takes a long time for streets to be widened and repaved, and for new drainage and sidewalks to be installed because it costs a lot of money.  In order to keep up with all of the infrastructure maintenance the city has a five year rolling plan that is approved annually.  But in the mean time, you can still get pot holes filled if you call 311 or go on line to file a citizens request form. 

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? City of San Antonio

There's a lot going on at the City of San Antonio so I'm going to break it down into smaller pieces.

Just a reminder, everything printed in bold, orange lettering is a link, just click on it.

A recap of the 2010 property tax bill of $5,029.23 for a $189,930 house.

$58.27 goes to Bexar County Road Maintenance and Flood Control
$30.30 goes to San Antonio River Authority
$258.03 goes to Alamo Community College District (NW Vista, SAC, St. Phillips, etc)
$505.66 goes to the University Health System (University Hospital)
$552.65 goes to Bexar County
$1,074.42 goes to the City of San Antonio
$2,540.31 goes to the School District you are in (In this case Northside ISD)


So $1,074.42 of your property taxes goes to the City of San Antonio.

The City of San Antonio receives revenues from several sources: Property taxes (25%), Charges and fees (20%), Revenues from Utilities (17%), Grants (usually federal) (15%), Sales Tax (14%), Hotel/Motel Tax (4%), Other Taxes (Short Term Rental Tax, Bingo Tax, etc) (2%), Fines (Library Fines, Traffic Tickets) (1%), Miscellaneous (1%), Intergovernment (0.6%), Permits/Licenses (0.4%)


The 2010 Budget for the City divides general fund expenditures in the following ways: Police (36%), Fire/EMS (26%), other services (Aviation, Community Initiatives, Historic Preservation, Solid Waste Management, Military Affairs, etc) (11%), Convention, Tourism and Culture (9%), Streets and Infrastructure (7%), Environmental (5%), Parks & Recreation (6%), Agencies (4%), Library (3%), Health (1%), Municipal Courts (1%), Neighborhood Services (1%), Economic Development (0.5%), Animal Care (0.5%), .  I will take you through each of these items in separate posts.  If you feel that you have a better way to spend the money you can post your suggestions on the online Budget suggestion box for the 2011 budget.

The largest slice of the City's budget goes to Public Safety, the Fire Department and EMS, the Office of Emergency Management and the Police Department.  These departments have large staffs, many stations and building facilities and large fleets of police cars, fire trucks and ambulances.  When the first governments were formed way back in the caveman days, it was the responsibility of the headman to protect his community and that is still the primary responsibility of governments today.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? Bexar County

A recap of the 2010 property tax bill of $5,029.23 for a $189,930 house.

$58.27 goes to Bexar County Road Maintenance and Flood Control
$30.30 goes to San Antonio River Authority
$258.03 goes to Alamo Community College District (NW Vista, SAC, St. Phillips, etc)
$505.66 goes to the University Health System (University Hospital)
$552.65 goes to Bexar County
$1,074.42 goes to the City of San Antonio
$2,540.31 goes to the School District you are in (In this case Northside ISD)

So $552.66 of your property taxes goes to Bexar County.  The property tax represents 52% of the county's revenue.  Other revenue sources are Grants and Contributions (25%), Charges for Service (14%), Motor Vehicle taxes (3%), Other taxes (a portion the sales tax, hotel & motel tax, bingo tax and short term rental taxes) (3%), Investment income (1%) and Miscellaneous income (2%).

Bexar County spends its revenue in the following ways:  Public Safety (36%), Judicial (16%), General Government (15%), Public Works(15%), Health and Public Welfare (6%), Community Venue (5%), Debt (4%),  Education and Recreation (2%), Commissary (1%).

Bexar County is the only government for people who live outside of cities but within the county.  It also provides services to anyone living within the county.  The county provides similar services to county residents that cities provide, but they cover a much wider territory with a lot less money.  Debt being paid by the county refers to bond issue debt and the commissary is in the Sheriff's office.

The county provides public safety through the Sheriff's office, the Bexar County Constables office and the Bexar County Jail.  The County also has a medical examiner and a forensics toxicology lab. It also provides fire and emergency services in the county.  The county is also responsible for a number of different types of courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, the County Court, District Courts and some Appellate Courts.  If you ever find yourself in Probate Court constesting a will, it will be a county court.

General government activities for Bexar County include, issuing marriage licenses, voter's registration, the appraissal district, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and issuing land deeds.

As I mentioned before, the county pays a portion of all public works projects (road and flood) throughout the county.  They are also responsible for bridges and storm water quality in the county.


The county's involvement in health and public welfare includes a $6 million donation to Haven for Hope, participation in the University Health System, and the Center for Health Care Services which helps people with mental and developmental disabilities and substance abuse challenges.

Community venues in the county include the River Walk, youth and amateur sports facilities, Freeman Colleseum and AT&T Sports Arena, and Cultural Arts centers like the Museo Alameda.  These venues are mostly covered by Hotel and Motel Taxes and Short Term Rental Taxes.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization educates neighborhoods on how to use their infrastructure to encourage walking and biking to area restaurants, schools, businesses and parks. It also offers bicycle safety classes and sets up Bike Rodeos.

Where do Your Property Taxes Go? University Health System

A recap of the 2010 property tax bill of $5,029.23 for a $189,930 house.

$58.27 goes to Bexar County Road Maintenance and Flood Control
$30.30 goes to San Antonio River Authority
$258.03 goes to Alamo Community College District (NW Vista, SAC, St. Phillips, etc)
$505.66 goes to the University Health System (University Hospital)
$552.65 goes to Bexar County
$1,074.42 goes to the City of San Antonio
$2,540.31 goes to the School District you are in (In this case North Side ISD)

About 39% of the University Health System budget comes from property taxes. Other sources of revenue are Patient Payments (45%), Disproportionate Share Hospital program (paid by the state to cover costs not covered by Medicaid and for indigent patients) (12%), other revenue, such as Donations to the UHS foundation (3.9%) and money from the Tobacco Settlement (.1 %) 

The System uses your $505.66 to  offer the full range of medical services to anyone needing their services, including:  trauma care (the only other trauma facility is BAMC), health education, and CARELINK (a financial assistance program for people who do not qualify for Chip or Medicaid).

The State of Texas ranks the lowest in per capita state health spending, so we tax payers really aren't paying that much for indigent patients.  Also the vast majority of public employees in Texas are either teachers or hospital workers.

Where Do Your Property Taxes Go? Alamo Community College District

A recap of the 2010 property tax bill of $5,029.23 for a $189,930 house.

$58.27 goes to Bexar County Road Maintenance and Flood Control
$30.30 goes to San Antonio River Authority
$258.03 goes to Alamo Community College District (NW Vista, SAC, St. Phillips, etc)
$505.66 goes to the University Health System (University Hospital)
$552.65 goes to Bexar County
$1,074.42 goes to the City of San Antonio
$2,540.31 goes to the School District you are in (In this case North Side ISD)

The $258.03 that goes to the Alamo Community College District  is used to help support the Community Colleges in San Antonio:  Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio College, St. Phillips College and Palo Alto College.  The Alamo Community College District is a special government with taxing authority and the ability to issue bonds.  The bond issues are used to borrow money and are approved by the voters before they can be issued.  The district also has an elected board, and right now there is a heavilly contested race in District 7 between Blakely Latham Fernandez and David A. Whitley.

Your $258.03 helps to pay for college operations and to pay off bond issue debt.  Operating expenses include, instruction, public service, academic support, student services, institutional services, operation and maintenance of plant,  and scholarships and fellowships.  Now this is only a drop in the bucket to cover the college's expenses so the rest is covered by state allocations (sales tax revenue), tuition and fees paid by the students, federal (income tax revenue) and state grants and contracts and investments in that order with the majority of funds coming from the state, tuition and the federal government.