Bexar County residents targeted for annexation by San Antonio can expect a 20-plus percent increase in property taxes.
A home valued at $113,800 would be taxed $2,860 versus $2,342
currently, according to a city analysis. The estimate could be
conservative, as sharply higher assessments drive up San Antonio
property tax bills.
So, would the city pull itself out of debt with annexation, or dig
deeper? Would new residents get the services they’re promised? Skeptics
abound.
State lawmakers representing some of the targeted areas scoff at the city’s bid to corral nearly 200,000 more county taxpayers.
Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San
Antonio, oppose expansion and vow to renew their opposition next
session.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, this month, ordered the Senate Inter-Governmental Relations Committee to revisit the state’s liberal annexation laws.
The Senate passed a bill last session to limit cities’ annexation powers, but the measure was derailed by the House.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-Alamo Heights, did not respond to Watchdog’s request for comment.
Terri Hall, president of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, doubts the House will act.
“The speaker is cozy with the Democrats who are cozy with the Texas
Municipal League, which pushes forced annexation,” Hall said. “The
governor is going to need to lead.”
RELATED: Win or lose, San Antonio ‘Spurs’ annexation
Under current state law, “home rule cities” like San Antonio can
unilaterally absorb outlying areas without the consent of affected
property owners. Critics call such action an undemocratic hostile
takeover.
James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance at the
Texas Public Policy Foundation, said San Antonio’s annexation agenda
“could end up putting people in harm’s way.”
“Adding large chunks of land and people requires a lot more public safety resources,” he said.
The San Antonio Police Officers Association, currently in deadlocked
contract negotiations with the city, calls annexation “a horrible idea.”
“We’re barely covering what we’ve got right now,” police union president Mike Helle told the Express-News.
Helle figures 165 additional officers would be needed to serve the
annexed areas — at a time when the city is lugging a $17 billion
municipal debt amassed over the course of previous annexations.
San Antonio planners project the latest acquisition, applying higher
property taxes to 66 coveted square miles, will be a net financial gain
for the city by 2020.
City Councilman Joe Krier, whose northside district would expand
under annexation, isn’t convinced a bigger San Antonio would be a better
San Antonio.
“Let’s make sure that we are making thoughtful decisions that are in
the best interests not just of the people who would be annexed, but are
in the best interest of the people who are already in the city,” Krier
told WOAI news.
Mayor Ivy Taylor also has suggested slowing things down. City staff on Wednesday recommended the council delay action on annexation until next spring.
Meantime, Campbell and Larson continue to question San Antonio’s annexation model.
“It is clear that a dilution of services will occur in the inner city
because demand for services would greatly increase in the newly annexed
areas,” the lawmakers wrote to Taylor this month.
“Encouraging competition for services between inner city areas and
areas far north and west is counter to the work by city leadership over
the last decade to encourage inner-city revitalization.”
Despite those concerns — and because of them — annexation advocates
want to press ahead to preempt any possible intervention from Austin.
With the Legislature not scheduled to convene until 2017, San Antonio’s
expansionists have time to maneuver.
Kenric Ward writes for the Texas Bureau of Watchdog.org. Contact him at . @Kenricward
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