WHEREAS,

the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce mission is to be the leading resource, advocate, and access point for Hispanic businesses, Hispanics in business, and the Hispanic market; and

WHEREAS,

the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce five focus areas are small business, economic development, international trade, leadership development, and education; and

WHEREAS,

on February 10, 2022, the Mayor and San Antonio City Council called for the City of San Antonio’s 2022 – 2027 General Obligation Bond Program to be placed on the May 7, 2022 ballot; and

WHEREAS,

the development of the bond program was a community driven process that included collaborative meetings between city departments and city council, 5 City Council B Sessions, 5 community bond committees comprised of 163 appointed residents, and 20 community bond committee meetings that more than 700 residents engaged in.; and

WHEREAS,

the bond program totals $1.2 billion, funding 183 projects, divided into six propositions: $471.6 million for streets, sidewalks & bridges, $272 million for Parks & Recreation, $170 million for drainage and flood control, $150 million for housing, $78 for public safety facilities, and $58 for library and cultural facilities; and

WHEREAS,

the proposed $1.2 billion bond program is the largest bond program in the city’s history; and

WHEREAS,

the $1.2 billion bond program strikes the right balance between the immediate infrastructure needs of the community and the projected $6 billion in infrastructure needs throughout San Antonio by not requiring an increase in the city’s property tax rate and leveraging $269.4 million in funding from other sources; and

WHEREAS,

the bond program makes investments in 14 city wide projects and 9 regional projects, which aligns with the Hispanic Chamber’s local policy priority of supporting investments that enhance our quality of life and make San Antonio a desirable destination for residents, employers, entrepreneurs, and future workforce; and

WHEREAS,

53% of the proposed bond program funding is dedicated to hard infrastructure projects, such as streets and drainage.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and its more than 900 members support the City of San Antonio’s $1.2 billion 2022 – 2027 General Obligation Bond Program that will be placed on the May 7, 2022, ballot.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce believes the bond program will make impactful investments that will address our immediate community needs, foster local economic development, and enhance our quality of life; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will monitor and work with the City of San Antonio to ensure preference for contract to complete bond projects is given to local small, minority, and women-owned businesses.

IN CONCLUSION,

this Resolution was submitted and approved by the membership of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in April 2022.