San Antonio City Council on Thursday unanimously agreed to put a $442 million bond package before voters in May 2027. The package is the city's smallest in more than two decades. It includes downtown infrastructure upgrades tied to Project Marvel, the planned sports and entertainment complex at Hemisfair.
The proposition includes $35 million for Hemisfair infrastructure improvements that city staff consider necessary for Project Marvel to move forward. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones proposed an amendment to shift that $35 million to other improvements. She said the city could find other funding sources for the Project Marvel work. "There are many, many expenses to which this $35 million can go," Jones said.
According to the story, keeping the bond at $442 million means San Antonio taxpayers will not face a near-term property tax rate increase, which would have been needed if the bond were larger. The story also reports that significant aspects of Project Marvel were scaled back this week, that no date has been set for arena construction to begin, and that negotiations between the city and Spurs Sports & Entertainment are ongoing.