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Financial Transparency

Financial Summary

The following financial summary data is from the government-wide Statement of Activities in the River Authority’s Annual Financial Report (AFR).

Provided below you will find documents, summaries, visualizations, and other relevant information for the San Antonio River Authority that provide insight to the organization finances and strategic priorities. 

The per capita figures are based on the River Authority’s four-county jurisdiction 2022 estimated population of 2,209,675.

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Revenues and Expenses per Capita

Five-Year Period

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Property Tax Rate per $100

Five-Year Period

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Finance Department

The Finance Department is committed to building public trust through sound financial management. The previous Annual Financial Reports along with other financial information are listed below for your convenience. Check registers can be requested via open records at https://www.sariverauthority.org/financial-services/public-information-act due to increased attempted fraud activity. Additionally, links to the financial policies and current fees and rates are listed below.

Tax Rates

The Finance department provides a full range of accounting, accounts payable, payroll, treasury management, budgeting and purchasing services.

The San Antonio River Authority has the statutory authority to impose an ad valorem tax for use in planning, operations and maintenance activities only. Its tax is statutorily limited to two cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The adopted ad valorem tax rate is $0.018 per $100 assessed property valuation. The average annual tax is $51.03. The adopted FY 2023-2024 budget is $389.6 million.

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The River Authority has been awarded the Traditional Finances Transparency Star by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Financial Reports

State statutes and revenue bond resolutions require an annual audit by independent certified public accountants. Annually, the Fiscal Committee and Board of Directors are briefed on the results of the annual audit. These reports include all funds of the San Antonio River Authority.

Income Statements

Investment Reports

The following reports are submitted in accordance with the Public Funds Investment Act (Texas Gov’t Code 2256). The reports also offer supplemental information not required by the Act in order to fully inform the governing body of the San Antonio River Authority of the position and activity within the Authority’s portfolio of investment. The reports include a management summary overview, a detailed inventory report for the end of the period, a transaction report, as well as graphic representations of the portfolio to provide full disclosure to the governing body.

Annual Budget

The Annual Budget is focused on supporting the mission, goals and objectives of the River Authority. Information on the annual revenues and expenditures, to include projects and departmental operating activities, are provided within the publication. The Finance department provides a full range of accounting, accounts payable, payroll, treasury management, budgeting and purchasing services. The previously adopted budgets along with our latest budget worksheet are listed below for your convenience.

Total Budget

$389.6 Million

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Debt Obligations

The San Antonio River Authority has issued debt to fund needed capital improvement projects including flood control structures, facilities for staff, and wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements. In addition, the River Authority has also issued debt on behalf of partner agencies to fund improvements to their wastewater and reuse systems that benefit the San Antonio watershed. The River Authority has no legal debt limits. However, the enabling statute of the River Authority prohibits the River Authority from pledging any ad valorem tax revenue to a debt issuance.

The outstanding debt for the River Authority is currently paid from: Bexar County flood control property tax revenue (through a contract with Bexar County, surplus revenue – General Fund – that are not from ad valorem taxes, wastewater systems revenues (generated from user fees), other outside agencies through contract (Alamo College District and Universal City), and surplus utility revenue that are not from ad valorem taxes. The General Fund, because ad valorem taxes cannot support debt service, is not impacted by existing debt obligations.  The wastewater utility systems’ rates are set to provide enough funding for the annual debt service requirements. Therefore, the existing debt does not negatively impact any of the River Authority’s current operations.

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Revenue Supported Debt

Five-Year Period

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Fee Schedules and Rates

The River Authority adopts a consolidated schedule of fees that contains all authorized fees. Fees established by this Ordinance are proposed to supersede prior approved fees and to remain in effect until replaced by action by the River Authority Board of Directors.

The River Authority adopts a Laboratory Analytical Services Fee Schedule that contains all authorized fees for services provided. Fees established by this Ordinance are proposed to supersede prior approved fees and to remain in effect until replaced by action by the River Authority Board of Directors. 

The outstanding debt for the River Authority is currently paid from: Bexar County flood control property tax revenue (through a contract with Bexar County, surplus revenue – General Fund – that are not from ad valorem taxes, wastewater systems revenues (generated from user fees), other outside agencies through contract (Alamo College District and Universal City), and surplus utility revenue that are not from ad valorem taxes. The General Fund, because ad valorem taxes cannot support debt service, is not impacted by existing debt obligations. The wastewater utility systems’ rates are set to provide enough funding for the annual debt service requirements. Therefore, the existing debt does not negatively impact any of the River Authority’s current operations.

Financial Policies

The River Authority’s policies and guidelines are established through an extensive review and approval process.  Generally, the department responsible for the function(s) guided by the policy or guideline drafts the initial document.  The draft is then reviewed by the management and executive teams for their input.  Managers are responsible for garnering input from their staffs to make the process as inclusive as possible.  Once a final draft is completed, guidelines are approved and signed by the General Manager.  Policies are approved by the General Manager in some cases and by the Board of Directors in other instances.  Policies are taken to the Board of Directors for consideration when they impact Board functions that may be outlined in the River Authority bylaws and/or when they may have a fiscal impact (e.g. such as approval of grant applications).  Board approval is sought through the regular open meetings process with an item placed on the Board’s agenda.

Open Records Requests

It is the policy of the San Antonio River Authority to comply with the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code 552). The public has a right to prompt access to the records of the River Authority that are not confidential or otherwise protected. The River Authority will acknowledge requests for information within two business days and may charge a fee as prescribed by law or regulation for the costs incurred producing the requested documents. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within two business days, your request was not received. In this case please call (210) 337-1373 and ask for the Public Information Act Officer.

The request must ask for records or information already in existence. The Public Information Act does not require governmental bodies to create new information, perform legal research, or to answer questions.

For inquiries pertaining to record drawings for wastewater utility services within the River Authority service area please call 210-302-4200 or email your questions to utilitiesdevelopment@sariverauthority.org or visit the Utilities Development Resources page.  These types of requests should not be made through the Public Information Act portal. 

Notice of Charges

The River Authority uses the rates established by the Office of the Attorney General to determine charges for the production of public records.

If the cost of the request is expected to exceed $40, the River Authority will send a cost estimate letter to the requestor. The estimate letter will include an itemized statement of any copying, personnel, mailing or other charges that will be incurred in fulfilling the request. Once the requestor confirms that he or she agrees to the estimated costs, the River Authority will begin compiling the records. If the requestor does not respond to the cost estimate letter within ten (10) days, the request will be closed.

Where estimated costs exceed $100, the requestor will be required to make a deposit before any records are compiled.

Common Charges Include

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Labor Charges

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Fees for Repetitive Requestors:

Effective Sept 1, 2007, the Texas Legislature adopted H.B. 2564, which authorizes a governmental body, such as the River Authority, to establish a process of charging a fee if the time required for information production from a single requestor exceeds 36 hours during a fiscal year or 15 hours during a month. The River Authority established this process by Board action on December 19, 2018.

In such cases, the River Authority is authorized to provide the requestor with a written estimate of the total cost, including materials, personnel time and overhead expenses, necessary to comply with the request. The written estimate must be provided to the requestor on or before the 10th day after the date on which the public information was requested.

For more information on the Texas Public Information Act, please visit the Texas Attorney General Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us/open/og_faqs.shtml and the Attorney General’s Open Government website regarding Charges for Public Information.

Alerts

Trail Closure Notice: San Pedro Creek Culture Park

The west bank of the San Pedro Creek trail will be closed from the access point at Commerce St south to Dolorosa until further notice due to maintenance work. Alternate route w/ ADA access is on the east bank trail that can be accessed either from the Commerce or Dolorosa crossing.

SASPAMCO Paddling Trail

The SASPAMCO paddling trail is now open from River Crossing Park to Helton Nature Park. *Please Note: Paddling Trail from Helton Nature Park to HWY 97 is still closed due to blockages.*  

Stem Density Efforts

Stem Density efforts are still in place but will not directly affect any parks or trails. We apologize for any inconvenience.

San Pedro Creek Culture Park – STREAM

Due to maintenance, the water features for STREAM art piece will be turned off until further notice. The STREAM Microphone area is also closed due to vandalism. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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