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Demand for City-type Services. Demand for City-Type Services. Development in the unincorporated area may result in the expectation that the County should provide different, city-type services
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Demand for City-Type Services • Development in the unincorporated area may result in the expectation that the County should provide different, city-type services • SB 89 passed in 1999 made the annexation process more difficult therefore, the City of San Antonio has curtailed annexation
Demand for City-Type Services • “City”-type Services: • Utilized City’s FY 2010-11 Budget to • establish a cost per citizen • Used Unincorporated Area population to • establish a budget for these services • Calculated the tax rate needed to pay for these services
Demand for City-Type Services • Services not provided by the County that may be expected in a more urban unincorporated area setting: • Code Enforcement - $2.4 M. • Cultural Affairs - $1.5 M. • Customer Service/311 - $805 K. • Development Services - $4.3 M. • Fire/EMT - $48.5 M. • Police - $63.4 M. • Solid Waste Management - $20 M.
Cost for City-Type Services • Bexar County budget would increase by $155 million if implemented in 2012 • This does not include costs associated with start-up such as the construction of buildings, vehicles, etc. • Assumes all costs are paid through property tax revenue, no special fees included.
Legal Challenges/Barriers • Counties in Texas do not have “home rule” authority, they only have powers specifically granted to them by the constitution and state laws • Significant constitutional and/or legislative change would be required in order for the County to perform some of these services
Fiscal Challenges/Barriers • Tax all property in Bexar County • Tax rate increase of $0.1849 per $100 valuation • Current tax rate is $0.32686 per $100 valuation • Would bring total tax rate up to $0.5118 per $100 valuation • City’s current tax rate is $0.56569 per $100 valuation
Fiscal Challenges/Barriers • Tax property in the unincorporated area of Bexar County • Tax rate increase of $1.2251 per $100 valuation • Would bring total County tax rate up to $1.552 per $100 valuation • Constitutional Limit of $0.80 per $100 valuation
Bottom Line • County can’t legally perform many City-type services • No “home rule” or ordinance-making authority • County won’t be legally able to raise taxes to fund this level of services • Roll-back rate limitation of no more than 8% annually
Other Options Available to Unincorporated Areas • Pursue self-incorporation as new cities • Creation of Special Districts • Self-Assessments, Public Improvement Districts, etc • Annexation by the City of San Antonio (or other incorporated cities) 10