But when LaHood announced the $3 million allocation in a June press release, his office made it clear: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the Tuesday work session, Salazar described the grant as a reimbursement grant.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that we purchase while the $3 million is there, we can\u2019t access until we\u2019ve paid for it utilizing county funds,\u201d he said. \u201cThen we would go to the grant and be reimbursed. So we\u2019re asking for the operational budget upfront to go ahead and start accessing the grant funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
But later in the discussion, Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez questioned Salazar about the reimbursement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI understood the money from the state was potentially for the purchase of the equipment we\u2019ll still need to put something in the budget for operations.\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cAnd 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\u2019t remember it speaking to reimbursement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Salazar admitted he \u201cmay have misspoken\u201d and that his office is still waiting on clarification from the state over the details of the grant.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve seen what we\u2019ve seen,\u201d Salazar told Rodriguez. \u201cWe\u2019re expecting that detail to hit in early September.\u201d<\/p>\n
LaHood\u2019s Chief of Staff Sebastian Quaid provided the following statement when asked for specifics on the state grant and whether operational costs would be reimbursed:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRepresentative 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
State grant guidance<\/a> lists \u201csupplanting\u201d \u2014 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\u2019s rules. The Texas Anti-Gang Program<\/a> grant distribution begins Sept. 1.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Salazar said BCSO has not compiled those numbers and would have to reconstruct call logs day by day. Instead, he pointed to anecdotes \u2014 missing children, seniors with dementia, fugitives in the brush \u2014 to argue the helicopter is a daily necessity.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/BexarCountyCommissionersCourt_RebeccaClayFlores_JustinRodriguez_08.26.2025_DiegoMedel.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n