San Antonio Voters to Decide on $442 Million Bond in May 2027
City Council approved a package including $35 million for Hemisfair infrastructure after rejecting a mayor's amendment.
By Olivia Miller ·
San Antonio City Council voted 6-4 on Thursday to send a $442 million bond package to voters in May 2027. The measure funds downtown infrastructure upgrades tied to Project Marvel, a multibillion-dollar sports and entertainment complex planned for Hemisfair.
The proposal includes $35 million for specific improvements at the Hemisfair site. City staff identified these upgrades as necessary prerequisites for the development to proceed. The bond amount keeps the tax burden below a threshold that would have triggered an immediate increase in property tax rates for residents.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones proposed an amendment during the session to reallocate the $35 million to other city projects. Jones argued that alternative funding sources could cover the Hemisfair infrastructure costs. She stated that the money could address many other expenses within the city budget.
The council rejected the amendment, keeping the original allocation for the sports complex. This decision follows a week in which several aspects of the Project Marvel plan were scaled back. No start date for arena construction has been set, and negotiations between the city and Spurs Sports & Entertainment continue.
The $442 million package is the smallest bond proposition the city has submitted in over twenty years. Voters will cast ballots on whether to approve the debt in the May 2027 election.
