San Antonio TX, August 20, 2025
News Summary
The San Antonio City Council has advanced a $4 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes funding for 25 new patrol officers. This comes amid a $173 million shortfall in the general fund, prompting council members to request additional funds for public safety. They argue that 25 officers are insufficient, aiming for at least 65. The budget discussion reflects ongoing efforts to address community safety and optimize city resources amidst financial constraints.
San Antonio — City Council advances a $4 billion fiscal year 2026 spending plan that includes funding for a limited number of new police patrol officers amid a $173 million general fund shortfall
The proposed fiscal year 2026 budget for San Antonio includes funding for 25 new patrol officers for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), a step that city council members from the North and Northwest sides say is not enough. Council members representing those areas formally requested that the city restore a larger addition of patrol officers, calling for at least 65 new patrol officers instead of 25. The council is balancing that request against a reported $173 million general fund deficit, which has forced officials to scale back planned hires and examine funding trade-offs across city services.
Key developments and immediate context
- The city is drafting a $4 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026, with the general fund totaling about $1.69 billion.
- SAPD’s operating budget is approximately $630 million, making it the largest single department within the general fund.
- SAPD currently has 2,893 uniformed positions on record; the proposed FY2026 additions would include 25 new patrol officers and a total expected increase of 97 uniformed positions, although 65 of those are planned to come from consolidating officers from parks and airport police departments into SAPD.
- The city previously added 100 patrol positions in FY2024 and planned 65 additions in FY2025.
Council push and staffing goals
Council members from Districts 7, 8, 9 and 10 urged restoration of the higher staffing target. Since 2023, the city has maintained a plan to add 360 patrol officers over a three- to five-year period. City staffing analysis indicates that the additional officers envisioned in the original plan would allow patrol personnel to spend about 40% of their time responding to calls and 60% on proactive policing, which council members cite as an important balance for community safety.
Budget constraints and cost estimates
Budget officials scaled back potential officer additions for FY2026 amid the general fund shortfall. An initial trial budget did not include new patrol officers until council members pressed for more resources, resulting in the inclusion of 25 officers in a revised proposal presented on August 14, 2025. Fiscal modeling shows that adding 40 officers in FY2026 would cost roughly $2.1 million for that fiscal year and about $5.9 million in FY2027 when full-year costs are accounted for. Funding sources for additional officers have not been finalized.
Debate over funding priorities and alternatives
Council members have raised multiple concerns about the trade-offs required to fund new officers. One council member highlighted rising salary and equipment costs, noting the need to procure additional police cars and gear. Another pointed to research that suggests diminishing returns when police numbers increase without complementary strategies. Alternatives suggested by council members include investing in traffic safety measures, improved lighting in public areas, and expanding non-police responses such as community-based mental health teams to reduce calls for police intervention. City leadership has also discussed using funds currently designated for other projects as potential offsets, although no final decisions have been made.
Operational changes and department consolidation
Aside from the patrol officer debate, SAPD plans to absorb several smaller city departments over time. The FY2026 staffing plan anticipates adding 97 uniformed positions, but 65 of those would result from transferring officers from the parks and airport police departments into SAPD. City officials say the consolidation is intended to create efficiencies but will require careful budgeting for salaries and equipment.
Background and timeline
San Antonio’s multi-year effort to grow patrol staffing began in 2023 with an aim to add 360 officers over three to five years. Actual hires have proceeded in stages: 100 patrol positions were added in FY2024, another 65 were planned for FY2025, and a contested set of additions is under consideration for FY2026. The broader budget work for FY2026 is occurring against a larger municipal planning process for a $4 billion budget that must address the reported $173 million shortfall in the general fund.
Table: Key features of the FY2026 police funding debate
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total proposed city budget (FY2026) | $4.0 billion |
| General fund | $1.69 billion |
| SAPD budget | $630 million |
| Current SAPD uniformed positions | 2,893 |
| Patrol officers requested by some council members | At least 65 new patrol officers |
| Patrol officers in current proposal | 25 new patrol officers |
| Planned SAPD uniformed additions in FY2026 | 97 (65 via transfers from parks and airport) |
| Reported general fund deficit | $173 million |
Timeline of key budget events
| Date / Fiscal Year | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | City adopts multi-year plan to add 360 patrol officers over 3–5 years | Plan in effect |
| FY2024 | Added 100 patrol positions | Completed |
| FY2025 | Planned addition of 65 officers | Planned |
| August 14, 2025 | Revised FY2026 proposal includes funding for 25 new patrol officers after council push | Proposal presented |
| FY2026 | Budget work continues amid $173M general fund deficit; debate over adding more officers | Ongoing |
| FY2027 | Projected full-year cost implications for any FY2026 hires (e.g., 40 officers ≈ $5.9M) | Projection |
Simple visual charts
Budget share: SAPD vs rest of general fund
Patrol time allocation with additional staffing
General fund deficit visual
FAQ
How many new patrol officers does the FY2026 proposal include?
The FY2026 proposal includes funding for 25 new patrol officers in SAPD, following council revisions to the initial draft budget.
Why are some council members asking for 65 officers instead of 25?
Several council members representing North and Northwest Side districts argue that 25 officers are insufficient to meet public safety and traffic control needs and have requested restoring a target of at least 65 new patrol officers.
What is the city’s overall budget situation?
The city is working on a $4 billion spending plan for FY2026 and faces an estimated $173 million deficit in the general fund, which funds most city services.
How many uniformed SAPD positions currently exist and what are the planned additions?
SAPD currently lists 2,893 uniformed positions. The department expects to add 97 uniformed positions in FY2026, but 65 of those are planned to come from transferring officers from the parks and airport police departments into SAPD.
What would be the cost of adding more officers?
City estimates indicate adding 40 officers in FY2026 would cost about $2.1 million for that fiscal year and roughly $5.9 million in FY2027 when annualized.
Are there alternatives to adding more police officers?
Council members have proposed alternatives such as investing in better lighting, traffic safety measures, and expanding community-based mental health teams to reduce police calls, while some suggest reallocating funds from other projects to pay for officers.
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Additional Resources
- KSAT News
- Wikipedia: San Antonio Police Department
- Express News
- Google Search: San Antonio city budget 2026
- San Antonio Current
- Google Scholar: San Antonio Police Hiring
- MSN News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: City Budget Deficit
- KTSA News
- Google News: San Antonio Budget Deficit
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