San Antonio councilwoman wants SAWS to release audit before she'll consider 30% rate hike

Councilwoman Misty Spears speaks during a public safety town hall. Credit: Jacob R. Lopez

City Councilwoman Misty Spears is calling on San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to release the financial and performance audit the utility committed to provide to council before seeking another rate increase.

The District 9 council member’s request comes after SAWS’s board voted unanimously on Tuesday to bring yet another proposed rate hike to council.

Council narrowly voted down a 30% rate hike from the city-owned utility in June. In part, the rejection came down to a perceived lack of transparency about operations and spending.

At that time, some on council, including Spears, demanded that SAWS conduct and release an audit of its operations before bringing the issue back to the dais.

Now, Spears is looking for SAWS to make good on that promise.

“San Antonio families deserve transparency before being asked to pay more,” the councilwoman said in a statement. “City Council and the public need the opportunity to review how ratepayer dollars are being spent before any future rate increase is considered.”

Under the proposal approved by SAWS’s board, the utility is seeking a 30% rate hike over four years starting in 2027. That would come out to about $200 more annually for average residential customers.

SAWS officials said they had to cut out $600 million in needed capital projects because city council rejected its last rate hike request in June.

SAWS is seeking capital improvement cash because it’s put off maintenance projects for the past three decades. That led to the loss of 20 billion gallons of water last year, according to an annual audit the utility submitted to the state.

Spears maintains SAWS must be transparent with the public before council can approve a major rate increase — especially as San Antonio residents face the possibility of a 3.5% property tax increase.

“The burden is on SAWS to justify any request for higher rates,” Spears said. “Until the audit is released and outstanding financial questions are answered, residents should not be asked to shoulder a rate hike.”

Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.

San Antonio councilwoman wants SAWS to release audit before she’ll consider 30% rate hike

Tags: