Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addressed storm recovery efforts and looming city budget decisions.
The mayor discussed relief operations following a recent storm that knocked out power to approximately 100,000 residents, particularly affecting vulnerable neighborhoods on the city's West Side. Power has been restored to most affected residents over a two-and-a-half-day period, though about 1,000 households remain without electricity due to complex repairs involving downed lines in tight residential spaces.
Efforts to assist affected residents include distribution of hot meals and grocery replenishment through the San Antonio Food Bank, supported by $25,000 in gift cards donated by H-E-B. Animal Care Services, which lost power alongside neighboring facilities, has also resumed normal operations after temporary community fostering helped manage shelter animals during the outage.
The city is currently conducting damage assessments to determine if impacts meet the nearly $10 million threshold required to qualify for state assistance. Municipal officials emphasized that residents seeking storm cleanup or repair assistance through the city's 311 service line should not fear receiving code citations or tickets during outreach.
Addressing long-term recovery and funding, Ortiz Jones linked storm resilience directly to ongoing municipal budget negotiations for Fiscal Year 2027. The city faces a projected $158 million budget deficit, prompting discussions on resource allocation, tax increment reinvestment zones, and potential funding adjustments for community programs versus capital projects.
While property tax increases remain a last resort, city leadership is evaluating cost-saving measures, adjustments to hotel occupancy tax distributions, and program funding to maintain public health and essential infrastructure services for vulnerable populations.
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SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addressed storm recovery efforts and looming city budget decisions.
The mayor discussed relief operations following a recent storm that knocked out power to approximately 100,000 residents, particularly affecting vulnerable neighborhoods on the city's West Side. Power has been restored to most affected residents over a two-and-a-half-day period, though about 1,000 households remain without electricity due to complex repairs involving downed lines in tight residential spaces.
Efforts to assist affected residents include distribution of hot meals and grocery replenishment through the San Antonio Food Bank, supported by $25,000 in gift cards donated by H-E-B. Animal Care Services, which lost power alongside neighboring facilities, has also resumed normal operations after temporary community fostering helped manage shelter animals during the outage.
The city is currently conducting damage assessments to determine if impacts meet the nearly $10 million threshold required to qualify for state assistance. Municipal officials emphasized that residents seeking storm cleanup or repair assistance through the city's 311 service line should not fear receiving code citations or tickets during outreach.
Addressing long-term recovery and funding, Ortiz Jones linked storm resilience directly to ongoing municipal budget negotiations for Fiscal Year 2027. The city faces a projected $158 million budget deficit, prompting discussions on resource allocation, tax increment reinvestment zones, and potential funding adjustments for community programs versus capital projects.
While property tax increases remain a last resort, city leadership is evaluating cost-saving measures, adjustments to hotel occupancy tax distributions, and program funding to maintain public health and essential infrastructure services for vulnerable populations.
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
WOAI on Instagram: instagram.com/news4sa
WOAI on Facebook: facebook.com/News4SA
WOAI on Twitter: twitter.com/news4sa
Subscribe to WOAI on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCpsuSNiFkl4T4owtIb8QqWQ/?sub_confirmation=1
Daily News Playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyFwDPyddKc7LjpC-mcnv_GVlPbuj84-M
For more information, visit news4sanantonio.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: NewsDesk@news4sanantonio.com
Call the Newsroom: 210.442-6397
WOAI is a TX based station and an NBC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#WOAI #NEWS4SA #NEWS4SanAntonio #WOAI4 #SanAntonio
