Overview:
Two provisions on Bexar County’s Nov. 4 poll take care of funding for a brand new downtown Spurs enviornment and the creation of an Eastside rodeo and inventory present district.
Bexar County voters will quickly have their first alternative to weigh in on public funding for a brand new downtown Spurs enviornment — via a Nov. 4 poll measure referred to as Proposition B.
They’re additionally being requested to think about a significant redevelopment of the Spurs’ present Eastside house — listed on the poll at Proposition A — that might flip the Frost Financial institution Middle, Freeman Coliseum and surrounding grounds right into a year-round inventory present and rodeo district.
To pay for each, the county needs voters’ permission to make use of what’s referred to as the venue tax, which is predicted to provide about $503 million over the subsequent 30 years.
The San Antonio Spurs’ homeowners, the San Antonio Inventory Present and Rodeo and different supporters plan to marketing campaign aggressively for each measures, with a PAC to assist draw out voters in an in any other case low-turnout election.
In the meantime critics who don’t need to see public cash spent on a basketball enviornment, together with the group activist group COPS/Metro Alliance and a brand new group referred to as No Challenge Marvel are rallying voters towards Proposition B, however staying impartial on the rodeo initiatives.
The Nov. 4 poll contains Texas constitutional amendments, income measures for some faculty districts and different native points.
Early voting runs Oct. 20 via Oct. 31, and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 6.
Right here’s every little thing you must find out about earlier than you vote.
What’s Proposition B?
$311M for a brand new downtown Spurs enviornment
Native officers are proposing a brand new $1.3 billion Spurs enviornment that might transfer the crew from the county-owned Frost Financial institution Middle on the East Facet, to a brand new city-owned enviornment close to Hemisfair.
The county would solely pay for a portion of the sector, $311 million, whereas town of San Antonio would contribute $469 million, and the Spurs would choose up the invoice for the remaining $500 million, plus any overages.
However Proposition B — authorizing the county’s $311 million — is critical as a result of it’s the primary and maybe solely time that voters will likely be requested to approve public {dollars}.
The town isn’t legally required to ask voters’ permission for its portion, although some are pushing to carry a separate vote on metropolis cash at a later date.
Approving Proposition B would set in movement plans for a broader downtown sports activities and leisure district, referred to as Challenge Marvel. The Spurs would assist town purchase land across the enviornment and assist fill it with companies, eating places and housing.
Full particulars are specified by this time period sheet, which prohibits the Spurs from shifting to a different metropolis for not less than one other 30 years if the brand new enviornment is constructed.
If Proposition B doesn’t go, the time period sheet is void. The crew must determine whether or not to fund the brand new enviornment a distinct means, proceed taking part in video games within the Frost Financial institution Middle till their lease ends in 2032, or break the lease and search for a brand new house.
What is going to Prop B appear to be on the poll?
Right here’s precisely what the poll provision says:
SHALL the Commissioners Courtroom of Bexar County, Texas be authorizedprovide for the planning, acquisition, institution, improvement, building,renovation, and financing of a brand new, multipurpose enviornment designed primarily as thehome sport venue for the San Antonio Spurs basketball crew, and for use forother functions together with, however not restricted to, amenities for semi-professional,collegiate, and novice basketball video games, live shows, leisure occasions,group occasions, and conventions (the “Area Venue Challenge”), and relatedinfrastructure, a venue undertaking of the kind described in and as licensed by Chapter 334, Texas Native Authorities Code, as amended (the “Act”) and as designated anddescribed by the County’s decision dated June 10, 2025 (the “Decision”); and(i) to extend the County resort occupancy tax to a most price of two p.c(2%), for the aim of financing the Area Venue Challenge and approving theResolution, pursuant to Subchapter H of the Act, and if authorized, the maximumhotel occupancy tax price imposed from all sources in Bexar County would be17.00% of the value paid for a room in a resort; and (ii) to authorize using theexisting County short-term motorized vehicle rental tax at a most price of fivepercent (5%) on the gross rental receipts from the rental of motor autos in BexarCounty, pursuant to Subchapter E of the Act, for the aim of financing the ArenaVenue Challenge, and approving the Decision.
What does my ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ vote do?
A “yea” on Prop B authorizes the county to extend its resort tax from 1.75% to 2% beginning as quickly as 2026, plus lengthen an current rental automotive tax and designate the Spurs enviornment as a undertaking for that cash.
That cash can be used to repay debt issued to construct the sector, in addition to Prop B’s East Facet initiatives.
A “nay” means the resort tax price would stay the identical. The venue taxes would proceed to finance previous initiatives which have an excellent stability of $334 million in principal and $138 million in curiosity. That debt is predicted to be paid off by 2051.
If Proposition B fails, leaders might ask voters to increase or enhance the venue taxes to be used on different initiatives on a future poll, however would wish to get the initiatives authorized by the state.
What’s Proposition A?
$191.8M for an Eastside inventory present and rodeo district
Proposition A gives funding for a reimagined Eastside coliseum district that focuses on year-round livestock and rodeo occasions.
The Frost Financial institution Middle is already house to the San Antonio Inventory Present & Rodeo every February, and the Freeman Coliseum hosts live shows, commerce reveals. {and professional} bull using.
Each county-owned venues want costly repairs and upgrades within the close to future, county leaders say. But when the Spurs go away for downtown, they’ll additionally want a a lot larger rebranding to ensure taxpayer’ investments are maintained and never deserted like different cities’ previous sports activities venues.
A Might 27 presentation to county leaders lays out plans for brand spanking new exposition halls instead of previous parking heaps, which might transition between livestock reveals, pickleball tournaments, commerce reveals and extra.
Bexar County says it might use the realm to host an annual county truthful, plus FFA and 4-H conventions, horse reveals and different competitions to make sure it’s bringing in income 12 months spherical.
What is going to Prop A appear to be on the poll?
Right here’s precisely what the poll provision says:
SHALL the Commissioners Courtroom of Bexar County, Texas be authorizedprovide for the planning, acquisition, institution, improvement, building,renovation, and financing of a brand new, multipurpose enviornment designed primarily as thehome sport venue for the San Antonio Spurs basketball crew, and for use forother functions together with, however not restricted to, amenities for semi-professional,collegiate, and novice basketball video games, live shows, leisure occasions,group occasions, and conventions (the “Area Venue Challenge”), and relatedinfrastructure, a venue undertaking of the kind described in and as licensed by Chapter334, Texas Native Authorities Code, as amended (the “Act”) and as designated anddescribed by the County’s decision dated June 10, 2025 (the “Decision”); and(i) to extend the County resort occupancy tax to a most price of two p.c(2%), for the aim of financing the Area Venue Challenge and approving theResolution, pursuant to Subchapter H of the Act, and if authorized, the maximumhotel occupancy tax price imposed from all sources in Bexar County would be17.00% of the value paid for a room in a resort; and (ii) to authorize using theexisting County short-term motorized vehicle rental tax at a most price of fivepercent (5%) on the gross rental receipts from the rental of motor autos in BexarCounty, pursuant to Subchapter E of the Act, for the aim of financing the ArenaVenue Challenge, and approving the Decision.
What does my ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ vote do?
A “yea” vote authorizes the county to extend its resort tax, lengthen its rental automotive tax, and designate the Freeman Coliseum, Frost Financial institution Middle and San Antonio Inventory Present and Rodeo Amenities as authorized initiatives for that cash.
A “nay” vote means these taxes would proceed to go towards previous initiatives, and the county would wish to give you different cash to make repairs to these amenities.
