SAN ANTONIO -- The voters have spoken, and the City of San Antonio will increase it's sales tax by 1/8 of a cent in order to fund a Pre-k program offering more 4 year olds access to full-day Pre-K.
To make it happen, the city is moving forward with plans. By August of next year, the city wants to have 2 new schools, or Centers for Excellence, open to serve an additional 700 Pre-K students. A building on Medical Drive near Interstate 10 on the Northwest Side is one proposed location. The other proposed site is on the Southeast Side.
Although the plan is to have the 1/8 cent sales tax increase pay for the schools, that tax won't go into effect until April 1st. In order to have the schools done by August, the city will have to front the money. The approved 2013 capital budget includes funding for Pre-K 4 SA model centers. So, the city plans to fund $10-million of the amount needed by selling tax notes.
Later this week in city council, a resolution will be floated saying the city intends to reimburse itself for that money once the 1/8 cent sales tax revenues start coming in.
CLICK HERE to check out the city's plans and talking points for this week's council agenda.
