San Antonio Voters Confused by Wording of Proposed Charter Amendments Ahead of Elections

San Antonio Voters Face Confusion Over Proposed Charter Amendments

In the vibrant city of San Antonio, a recent set of polls highlights a puzzling situation for voters as they prepare for the upcoming Nov. 5 elections. The topic at hand? A proposed amendment regarding the city manager’s salary and tenure, specifically Proposition C. Interestingly, the way this question is framed significantly impacts public opinion. It seems that voters are caught in a dilemma of being both overwhelmingly opposed and generally in favor of changing the current regulations, depending on the wording.

The Polling Picture

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) surveyed likely voters in September and October about various proposed city charter amendments. Among these, Proposition C gained significant attention due to its shifting support based on how the question was posed. Initially, when pollsters used straightforward language to describe Proposition C, a striking 69% of respondents indicated opposition, while only 17% favored the amendment. However, when the wording was altered to reflect the actual ballot language, without mentioning the caps, support jumped to 43%, with 27% opposing the change.

The official ballot reads: “Shall the Charter of the City of San Antonio be amended to grant to City Council the authority to set the full terms of the City Manager’s employment including tenure and compensation?” This manipulation of language drastically shifted the public’s perception.

Discerning Public Sentiment

According to Bryan Gervais, the director of CPOR, there is a noticeable disconnect between voters’ understanding of the ballot language and their support for the removal of caps. Gervais emphasized, “I think yeah, absolutely, there is a big disconnect between what they understand the ballot language to mean and their actual support for the removal of the caps.”

Adding to the confusion is the fact that a large majority of potential voters aren’t even aware of these proposed amendments. In September, a staggering 81% of voters had not heard about the changes, a figure that only slightly improved to 72% by October. “It’s a problem if they’re going into the voting booth completely unaware of this stuff,” Gervais pointed out, highlighting the challenge of informing the public about these crucial issues.

A History of Salary Caps

It’s worth noting that these salary caps, which limit the city manager’s base salary to 10 times the lowest earning city employee and restrict the tenure to eight years, were put in place in 2018 following significant advocacy from the local fire union. The current City Manager, Erik Walsh, is capped at a base salary of $374,400, a figure based on the city’s minimum wage. His term is set to end by March 2027, and he receives additional compensation but isn’t eligible for performance bonuses.

A Showdown of Opinions

As the election draws near, the business community, led by the Renew SA Political Action Committee and the San Antonio Business Coalition, has rallied to support Proposition C. They argue that the current limits make it difficult for the city to attract top talent. Renew SA Campaign Director Kelton Morgan said their focus is on educating voters about the amendment’s specifics, but their campaign conveniently omits any mention that voters approved the caps in the first place.

This brings us to the opposition, led by the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association (SAPFFA). President Joe Jones is working hard to remind voters that these caps were initially voted on and accepted by the public. He described the ballot wording as “manipulative,” voicing concern that not mentioning existing limits may mislead voters who favor them.

Other Amendments and Shifts

Proposition C is just one of several amendments where public opinion has shifted dramatically based on how questions are framed. For instance, Proposition E, which suggests raising council members’ and the mayor’s salaries, saw support nearly double between polls. This change was attributed to how the proposed salaries were described, demonstrating once again how language can shape opinions.

In Summary

With election day approaching, San Antonio voters are in a complex position as they grapple with misunderstood amendments and conflicting opinions on salary caps for the city manager. As they prepare to cast their ballots, understanding these propositions and their implications has never been more vital. The results of these polls indicate that, regardless of the outcome, clear communication and public awareness are crucial in shaping the future of the city.