San Antonio Council Sends $442 Million Bond to May 2027 Ballot

San Antonio City Council members voted unanimously on Thursday to place a $442 million bond package on the ballot for May 2027. The measure funds downtown infrastructure upgrades linked to Project Marvel, a multibillion-dollar sports and entertainment complex planned for the Hemisfair site.

The council agreed to the bond size to keep the city's property tax rate stable in the short term. A higher bond amount would have triggered an immediate tax increase for taxpayers. This package represents the city's smallest bond proposal in more than twenty years.

The bond includes $35 million specifically for improvements at Hemisfair. City staff designated these upgrades as prerequisites for moving forward with the Marvel project. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones proposed an amendment during the session to reallocate that $35 million to other city needs.

Jones argued the city could find alternative funding sources for the project-specific work. “There are many, many expenses to which this $35 million can go,” she said. The council rejected her amendment by a vote of 6 to 4.

The timeline for the physical construction of the arena remains undecided. No start date has been set for arena construction, and negotiations between the city and Spurs Sports & Entertainment are ongoing. The project has also seen scaled-back elements recently.

Voters will review the entire $442 million package in May 2027. They will determine whether to approve the funds for the downtown infrastructure improvements and other included projects.