Friends and Neighbors –

I’m excited to share with you some of the recent developments and significant wins that my team and I have been championing in Court.

First, I am pleased to report that, following extensive advocacy efforts, we have achieved a salary raise for 911 Dispatchers and implemented other initiatives to enhance the quality of service they deliver to the community. These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, and it was essential for us to prioritize their ability to respond when you need assistance the most.

Regarding the new FY2025 County budget that was finalized on September 10th, I’m pleased to report that I fought for and secured an additional 41 deputy sheriffs and 12 deputy constables in this new budget. Since becoming a County Commissioner, I have consistently spearheaded efforts to increase law enforcement resources, and in the two years that I’ve been in office, 136 new law enforcement officers have been added! This is a historic and unprecedented investment into public safety by our County. I will continue to ensure that our local authorities have the necessary support to keep our communities safe and secure.

Every budget is going to be a process that ultimately ends in compromise. All in all, this is not the budget that I would have written, but the positives outweighed the negatives, and budgets are dynamic documents. Even with the addition of law enforcement officers and other items, there is still a $160M top line reduction in this budget. I will continue to advocate for fiscal restraint, reducing our debt burden, preserving our AAA credit rating, and prioritizing essential, statutory services. Governments at all levels must be better stewards of your tax dollars!

I also stood firm in my decision to vote against VIA’s request for $100M in County Advanced Transportation District (ATD) funds for the ART Silver Line. I believe that VIA should improve its utilization rate and show the true demand for their services before spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to expand further. It is crucial to approach public transportation decisions with a comprehensive perspective, and I will continue to prioritize the best interests of our constituents.

By now, you’ve heard about the contract the County approved for voter registration efforts, despite the threats of a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton. We’ve also been receiving emails and calls from concerned residents who have received voter registration forms for people who do not and have never lived at their address, for family members who have been deceased for years, and other concerning situations. I’ve taken a strong stance against this item since we first voted on it in July 2024. My concern was and still is that the company that was awarded the contract (with no bids from other, similar organizations) is not non-partisan, this is not a function of county government and we should not use taxpayer dollars for this effort (it has never been done before!), and many more. I firmly believe in protecting the integrity of our democratic processes and will not waver in safeguarding the rights of voters. I’ve linked several articles below with more of my sentiments on this critical issue.

On a positive note, we recently partnered with conservative members of the Bexar Appraisal District to pass meaningful appraisal reform. The board approved granting a one-year reprieve or pass for taxpayers who successfully challenge their property taxes through the appeals process in the previous year. This is a victory for taxpayers and will reduce the burden on taxpayers moving forward since they won’t have to fight through the appeals process every year. I’ve attached my letter of support below, which was read into the record and referenced by the board.

As always, I’m committed to representing your best interests and will continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of Bexar County. It has been great to hear from neighbors across Precinct 3 weigh in on the issues that are important to them, please keep your comments and concerns coming our way – and we will ensure that we are proactive about sharing upcoming items on the Court agendas. Thank you for your continued support and trust.