San Antonio’s Business Community Mobilizes for Charter Amendments Support Ahead of November Election

San Antonio Sees Surge in Support for Charter Amendments

San Antonio is buzzing with excitement as a new political action committee (PAC) named Renew SA has emerged, rallying financial support from the city’s business community to push for six charter amendments that voters will see on their ballots on November 5. With nearly $125,000 already raised or pledged from 21 different donors, including big names like Frost Bank and the San Antonio Apartment Association, it’s clear that there’s some serious backing for these proposed changes.

What’s on the Ballot?

The proposed amendments could reshape how San Antonio functions. Some of the key highlights include:

• Raising salaries for city council members
• Extending their terms
• Allowing city employees to actively participate in local campaigns

Among these, Proposition C takes center stage. This particular proposition would allow the city council the authority to set the employment terms for the city manager, a notable shift from a change adopted by voters just a few years ago in 2018. That measure capped the city manager’s salary at a maximum of ten times what the lowest-paid city employee earns and limited their tenure to eight years.

The Numbers Behind the Push

According to a recent campaign finance report, which covers just the first three weeks of fundraising efforts, Renew SA has reported a total of $124,755 in donations. Most of this amount was still available when the report was filed. The campaign has ambitious plans to spend more than $1 million to promote the amendments.

Kelton Morgan, the Campaign Director for Renew SA, is optimistic about the financial support they are receiving. “We’ve collected a lot more since and continue to do so,” he shared, hinting that the total cash on hand is now “significantly higher” than what was reported.

Proposition C: A Point of Contention

Proposition C has certainly created a stir. While it seeks to attract top-notch talent for the City Manager role, it’s important to remember what it would undo. The previous cap, established after a fire union-led campaign, was passed by 59% of voters. Current City Manager Erik Walsh is slated to leave his position by March 2027 if the cap remains, as his current salary of $374,400 is linked to the lowest-paid city workers’ rate, which stands at $18 per hour.

Despite the support from local businesses, the path for Proposition C is riddled with challenges. The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association has voiced strong opposition and has a considerable war chest of almost $920,000 at their disposal to fight against the campaign. A recent poll conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio showed that the notion of removing salary caps is generally unpopular among the public.

A Different Perspective

Interestingly, Renew SA’s own internal polling indicates a different story. When the actual language of the ballot was presented to voters, opinions seemed to shift, showing more acceptance toward the proposed changes. This has infused optimism into the Renew SA campaign as they gear up for what promises to be an engaging run until November 5.

As the countdown to the election continues, all eyes will be on San Antonio to see how voters respond to these proposed charter amendments. With the backing of the local business community and the potential impact of the outcomes, it’s sure to be an interesting ride!