Councilman Perry Says Fight for Lower Property Taxes Is Not Over
June 28, 2021 - San Antonio
![The fight continues. “Councilman [John] Courage and I pushed for an increase in our City Homestead Tax Exemption. Unfortunately, it did not gain support from the majority of the council and will not move forward as we hoped,” said District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry on Friday. Photo: Facebook/Councilman Clayton Perry - District 10.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9daf31af4683082f6eda4c/1624872635571-W9DUQX85SPHQ3FWTYSNZ/claytonperry1000x667.jpg)
The fight continues. “Councilman [John] Courage and I pushed for an increase in our City Homestead Tax Exemption. Unfortunately, it did not gain support from the majority of the council and will not move forward as we hoped,” said District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry on Friday. Photo: Facebook/Councilman Clayton Perry - District 10.
By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- On Friday, San Antonio City Council convened for a day-long policy goal-setting discussion regarding the FY 2022 City Budget
- Councilman Perry said Friday that he was unable to gain support among his colleagues for an increase in the City Homestead Tax Exemption
On Friday, San Antonio’s new city council convened for a day-long policy goal-setting discussion regarding the FY 2022 City Budget.
The kickoff to the budget season is when all council members lay out their priorities for the next fiscal year. District 10 representative Clayton Perry announced that the priorities of his constituents have remained the same.
“My priorities are based on the input of our neighbors in District 10, which have remained the same since 2017: street and infrastructure improvements, public safety, and property tax relief,” said Perry, who recently won his third term in the May 1 election.
Perry expressed gratitude that the Street Maintenance Program will be funded at an amount that is equivalent to what has been allocated in the past and is hopeful that federal funds can be used to replenish the funds the council deferred last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A recent scientific survey commissioned by the City showed that many residents would like to see more police officers in their communities. Perry said that he is supportive of increasing community policing efforts and adding additional officers in this year’s budget.
Though Perry was hoping for an increase in the City Homestead Tax Exemption, he says he was unable to gain support among his colleagues.
“Councilman [John] Courage and I pushed for an increase in our City Homestead Tax Exemption,” he said. “Unfortunately, it did not gain support from the majority of the council and will not move forward as we hoped.”
Perry said that property tax relief will remain a priority for his office in the years to come.
“This is bigger than the City Homestead Tax Exemption,” he said. “The fight for lower property taxes is not over.”
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded