Proposed budget restores previous cuts even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
City Council on Thursday is expected to approve a $3.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2022, and in spite of the economic woes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cuts that were previously believed necessary have been restored.
That means the city’s street maintenance program has been restored to the $110 million level that was budgeted before COVID-19 upended so many plans. The 2022 budget also includes $5.8 million for streetlights and $32.8 million for affordable housing.
The 2022 budget also includes $5 million for Vision Zero infrastructure improvements to address pedestrian safety pedestrian safety needs, and $2.7 million for a bicycle master plan. Vision Zero is one of my chief priorities in the 2022 budget.
In an effort to make the city more walkable, sidewalk funding is being increased to $21 million in the proposed budget.
These are services that will improve the quality of life for all San Antonians.
Previously planned budget cuts are being restored in part because the economy has recovered faster than anticipated, and city is using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act approved by Congress to fill budget holes.
The demand for city services never ends, but the budget is limited. As always, we have more needs that we can fund, but the 2022 budget does a good job of balancing the community’s needs in a wide variety or areas and ensuring that all areas are addressed.
The proposed budget adds 15 community policing positions, including a dozen SAFFE officers.
The SAFFE Unit, or San Antonio Fear Free Environment Unit, is a program that assigns officers to maintain regular interaction with neighborhoods, residents and businesses. This type of hands-on neighborhood policing is designed to prevent crime instead of waiting for it to happen.
SAFFE officers work with the community on youth programs, removing graffiti and other efforts reduce crime and decay.
Additionally, four Animal Care Officers are being added to handle barking dog calls and other animal-related issues that have been handled by the police department in the past.
As prepared by City Manager Erik Walsh and his staff, the proposed budget allocates $5.4 million to a new approach for handling mental health calls. The new approach establishes response teams that will include a paramedic, a health clinician and a police officer.
Additionally, the budget launches a five-year strategic growth plan for Metro Health, which is designed to create a better approach to public health that is in part based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic demonstrated how vitally important a well-prepared public health organization is to our community. The strategic plan will focus on mental health, health justice and ensuring access to care.
And I am happy to report that we will be able to increase funding for parks and recreation. The 2022 budget will include $105 million for parks, including scheduled maintenance at Brackenridge Park, Roosevelt Park and Eisenhower Park among others.
Some $33 million of the overall parks spending will come from the capital improvements projects.
Residents also can expect to see park and street projects in the 2022 bond issue that will be on the ballot next year.
And the city will continue its work providing emergency housing assistance, utility assistance and the SA Ready to Work initiative so that our economic recovery continues and residents who were impacted by COVID-19 have help keeping their homes and starting in better-paying, stable careers if they choose.
San Antonio is fortunate to consider a budget that restores previous cuts even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Addressing the city’s many and varied needs is never easy, but the 2022 budget accomplishes that feat as well as possible within city’s ability.
Ron Nirenberg is mayor of San Antonio.
