What was originally sold as a $3 million state-funded helicopter for anti-gang operations in Bexar County is now shaping up to be a permanent taxpayer-funded aviation program.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar requested an additional $500,000 in county funds to start a helicopter program at Tuesday’s County Budget work session. During his presentation he told commissioners the money would be reimbursed by the state through the $3 million grant secured by state Rep. Marc LaHood back in June.
But when LaHood announced the $3 million allocation in a June press release, his office made it clear: “The funds are restricted solely for the purpose of helicopter acquisition and may not be used for any other purpose, ensuring full accountability and focus on anti-gang operations.”
At the Tuesday work session, Salazar described the grant as a reimbursement grant.
His $500,000 request would cover operational costs at $194,046; pilot flight hour accumulation and advanced training at $175,000; and $130,954 set aside in a maintenance reserve.
“Anything that we purchase while the $3 million is there, we can’t access until we’ve paid for it utilizing county funds,” he said. “Then we would go to the grant and be reimbursed. So we’re asking for the operational budget upfront to go ahead and start accessing the grant funds.”
But later in the discussion, Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez questioned Salazar about the reimbursement.
“I understood the money from the state was potentially for the purchase of the equipment we’ll still need to put something in the budget for operations.” Rodriguez said. “And you all are still getting a clarification from the state on the reimbursement? I have not seen anything other than the budget rider. But I don’t remember it speaking to reimbursement.”
Salazar admitted he “may have misspoken” and that his office is still waiting on clarification from the state over the details of the grant.
“You’ve seen what we’ve seen,” Salazar told Rodriguez. “We’re expecting that detail to hit in early September.”
LaHood’s Chief of Staff Sebastian Quaid provided the following statement when asked for specifics on the state grant and whether operational costs would be reimbursed:
“Representative LaHood made a promise to help stop criminals, make our streets safer for our children, and support our brave law enforcement officers. Over the 89th Legislative Session, Rep. LaHood worked hard to ensure his promise was kept in a multitude of ways, including securing funding for the Bexar County Sheriffs. The acquisition of this helicopter will greatly assist our sheriffs in their efforts to stop gang and criminal activity throughout the county. Rep. LaHood is a staunch supporter of law enforcement and looks forward to working with them again in the 90th Legislative Session.”
State grant guidance lists “supplanting” — using state funds to replace local money already budgeted as a cost that is never allowed. That means even if county funds are spent first, the $500,000 in operational costs cannot be reimbursed under the grant’s rules. The Texas Anti-Gang Program grant distribution begins Sept. 1.
Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores whispers to Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez during a county budget work session on Aug. 26, 2025. Credit: Diego Medel / San Antonio Report
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores also pressed Salazar for details, asking how often his office requests helicopters from the Department of Public Safety or San Antonio Police Department and whether those requests are successful.
Salazar said BCSO has not compiled those numbers and would have to reconstruct call logs day by day. Instead, he pointed to anecdotes — missing children, seniors with dementia, fugitives in the brush — to argue the helicopter is a daily necessity.
Back in 2021, the sheriff pushed for a patrol boat and commissioners rejected the request when Salazar couldn’t provide information that would justify the purchase. The boat was ultimately acquired through a private donation.
Salazar told commissioners he has already hired a pilot to operate the helicopter.
“We’re happy to report that just yesterday our new pilot started. We hired a pilot that was a retired SAPD helicopter sergeant and came out of retirement. Now he’s a deputy with us, and he’s going to be spearheading a lot of these efforts.” he said.
Currently, the proposed budget allocates $199.5 million to the sheriff’s office distributed between adult detentions, law enforcement and support services. The additional funding would bring the total to just over $200 million. The budget amount that gets approved on Sept. 9 by county leaders cannot be reduced without a public vote thanks to a state law passed in 2021.
Senate Bill 23, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, requires counties with a population over 1 million to hold an election before reducing or reallocating a law enforcement budget. If a county cuts law enforcement funding without voter approval, its property tax revenue is frozen.
As of the 2020 Census, Bexar County’s population was just over 2 million. That law effectively locks the $500,000 request for aviation into the sheriff’s budget as a long-term expense for taxpayers.