2 San Antonio billionaires are the richest people in America

Key Points:

• San Antonio’s proposed 2026-2027 budget of $4.4 billion faces a $158 million shortfall, leading city leaders to consider cuts, including to arts and cultural organizations, while avoiding reductions in essential services or raising property taxes.
• Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has targeted funding cuts for several local arts groups, urging business and philanthropic leaders to provide three-year funding commitments to offset reductions affecting organizations like the San Antonio Book Festival and the Botanical Garden.
• The proposed budget allocates $7.85 million for over 40 arts and cultural agencies, maintaining current funding levels but reducing support for some groups that previously received over $2 million combined, along with cuts to the World Heritage office programs.
• Local nonprofits and arts advocates, including the Nonprofit Council and San Antonio Book Festival, have publicly opposed the cuts, emphasizing the importance of these organizations for community services, economic impact, and cultural enrichment.
• Separately, city leaders are considering requiring Fiesta event organizers to share security and city support costs, prompting event groups like the Conservation Society of San Antonio to plan staff reductions and program changes while seeking community input for future event redesigns.