City of San Antonio proposed budget plan for 2013

SAN ANTONIO -- City Manager Sheryl Sculley presented the proposed budget for 2013 to the mayor and city council for review on August 9th.

The proposed budget totals $2.3 billion and maintains the current city property tax rate. In a letter to the mayor and city council Sculley said the budget also includes $8 million in reductions through "improvements to service delivery models, effective utilization of city facilities, efficiencies in operations and reductions in administrative overhead."

Summary highlights:

Public Safety
Police. The budget includes civilanizing five police officers from the communications unit and promoting ten existing officers to detectives and sergeant.
Fire. The budget also provides funding to add a Technical Services Unit to the San Antonio Fire Department to help with mobile communications vehicles and other technical communications equipment for improved emergency response operations.

Street and Sidewalks
A total of $12.5 million is included for Street & Sidewalk Maintenance to "improve street surfaces as well as mobility throughout the community."

Libraries
The total budget for the library's books and materials budget is $4.1 million, an increase of $250,000. The budget also calls for capital and operating funds in the amount of $1.7 million maintenance, security cameras, and furniture replacement.

Neighborhood Revitalization
A total of $500,000 has been allotted to code enforcement for seven new positions. More than $1 million has been added for for several neighborhood revitalization efforts, including the expansion of Fitness in the Parks, funding for Brownfield Environmental Assessments, and redevelopment of the Mission Drive-In.

Animal Care Services
The budget includes $1.1 million for community-wide initiatives to reduce the number of stray animals, enhance animal control, and achieve a 70% Live Release Rate.

Economic Development
The budget maintains $4 million to stimulate development and investment, create new jobs, and retain, expand and attract new business to San Antonio.An additional $3 million will go to Downtown and Central City neighborhoods to support economic development projects and promote investment.

Employee Compensation
The budget recommends implementing the final phase of a tenure-based Civilian Step Pay Plan for trades, maintenance, and clerical employees, which would provide 5.2% increase, on average, for more than 2,421 employees (not including Cost of Living Adjustment). A 2.0% cost of living adjustment is also included for all current and retired civilian employees, and the city's living wage would increase from $10.75 to $11.08.

Uniformed police department workers would receive a 3.0% wage increase, and uniformed fire department workers would receive a 3.4% wage increase in accordance with approved collective bargaining agreements and other contractual provisions.

Solid Waste Management
The proposed budget calls for $92 million to go to the Solid Waste Operating and Maintenance Fund to operate and manage solid waste, recycling, brush collection, and other related services. No customer rate increase is proposed.

Stormwater Operations Fund
A monthly residential storm water rate increase of $0.50 is proposed to cover drainage and creekway maintenance, flood tunnel operations, river maintenance, street cleaning, engineering, and flood plain management.

Hotel Occupancy Tax
A majority (70%) of the projected $55 million revenue expected from the tax will be used to support operations of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Convention Center, and Alamodome operations. History & Preservation and Arts will both receive 15% of the tax revenue.

There are also plans to fund the Convention Center Expansion Project at a cost of $325 million over a 5-year period.

Development Service Fund
A total of $27.3 million would go to the Development Services Fund to support activities related to the regulation of city development. This amount includes funds needed to add four positions.

Aviation
The Aviation Fund would receive $88.2 million for operating and maintaining the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport.

CLICK HERE to view the entire Proposed City Budget for 2013.