Annexation of our area is incredibly important, affecting your taxes, representation, and home values.  There are a lot of questions about the issue, and we have pulled together all of the answers into one place.  The questions listed at the top deal with the events happening in 2018.  For reference, we have left the original questions and answers from the 2017 legislative battle below.



I thought that legislation was passed that prevented us from being annexed.  What happened?

It was an exciting day when Senate Bill 6 was finally passed to create the Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act (see our announcement post).  This piece of legislation gave residents throughout Texas the right to vote on whether or not they could be annexed (see Section 43.0691).  While this does not prevent a municipality from trying to annex an area, it gave the residents of that area the final word on whether or not it would be able to take place.

The City of San Antonio has now decided to move forward with their original annexation plans for the I-10W corridor even though the Annexation Right to Vote Act has been put into place.  The annexation will be put on the November 6th ballot for approval by the votes or the areas considered for annexation.

What areas are getting annexed this time?

The areas under threat of annexation appear to be the same as last time, but the latest map showing the boundaries (as well as the physical description of the area) can be viewed by clicking on the bolded links.

What are we voting on?

Current wording of the City of San Antonio's Proposition A which will be on the ballot November 6th essentially offers Option 1 (approve annexation of the area by the City) and Option 2 (no annexation, but the City reserves the right to impose land use regulations in the area to "protect the military missions" (see the verbiage in Section 43.0117.b). You can read the full verbiage of the proposition HERE.

We are not thrilled with the language on the ballot and are seeking clarification on some of the terms listed under Option 2. However, Option 2 is by far preferable to complete annexation under Option 1, as Option 1 means we pay city taxes (among other things - see additional information HERE).

Who can vote?

Anyone can show up to the polls to vote on the elections happening November 6th.  However, only voters who reside in the area considered for annexation will be able to vote on the proposition for/against annexation.  It is important to note that it is any RESIDENT.  This means that if you live in an apartment or other rental/temporary housing in the proposed annexation area, you can vote against the annexation proposition.  It also means that even if you own land in the annexation area, you cannot vote unless you also live in the area.  Residents of the City of San Antonio are NOT allowed to vote on the proposition.

How do I register to vote?  When do I have to register by?

Great questions!  Details are on our Get Out the Vote page, but the short answer is fill out a voter application and make sure to get it submitted at least 30 days before the election date of November 6th.

What about this military buffer zone I keep hearing about?

Many of the original arguments in favor of forced annexation (annexing areas without their explicit consent) were around the need to control development in areas around military bases in order to help preserve their ability to fulfill their missions.  When the Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act went through the Texas Legislature, a clause was added that provided certain land use regulatory authority within a five mile zone surrounding a military base should attempts at annexation fail (see Section 43.0117).

According to this clause, when an attempt at annexation fails due to being voted down by the residents, the municipality (in this case, the City of San Antonio) will then have the right to "adopt and enforce an ordinance regulating the land use in the area in the manner recommended by the most recent joint land use study."  This would NOT include the right to levy property taxes and would be restricted to specific recommendations contained within the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS).

Original FAQs from the 2017 legislative battle to get the Annexation Right to Vote bill passed:



What does it mean to be annexed?

Annexation means that areas around a city that are not technically part of the city can be incorporated, meaning that they become officially part of the city and the city's boundaries essentially move outward to include those areas being annexed.  Once an area is fully annexed, then they are required to pay city property taxes (see more on that below) and all services (fire, emergency medical services, police, etc.) have to be provided by the city.

But I thought we were already part of San Antonio?

Currently, the areas in question are in an unincorporated portion of Bexar County.  Even though your children may attend schools in the Northside ISD and use San Antonio as the city in your mailing address, you may not technically be within the San Antonio City limits.  The official city-published map can be found online, but it is not very clear as it does not show the specific streets.  If you use this map by MapTechnica, you can zoom in and see street by street whether or not you are inside or outside San Antonio city limits.

While you may not be within San Antonio city limits, all areas to be annexed (by law) must be part of San Antonio's ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction).  Due to the size of the city (population of 100,000+), San Antonio is allowed to claim the land up to five miles beyond their incorporated city limit as their ETJ.  Within this ETJ, San Antonio can exercise such rights as control development and pass certain regulations.  Residents of the ETJ, however, are not allowed to vote in city elections or have access to many city services (such as police or garbage removal).  They also do not pay city taxes.

But I thought we were part of Boerne/Fair Oaks Ranch?

Currently, the areas in question are in an unincorporated portion of Bexar County.  Even though your children may attend schools in the Boerne ISD and use Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch in your address, you may not be within their city limits.  While the City of Boerne has many interesting maps on their Interactive Maps website, the clearest one showing city limits can be found in this map by MapTechnica.  The City of Fair Oaks Ranch has a great map of their city limits as well as their ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction - shown in pink), which is much smaller than San Antonio's due to the population size of Fair Oaks Ranch and the fact that San Antonio has already claimed some area bordering on the City of Fair Oaks Ranch.

As mentioned above, while you may not be within San Antonio city limits, all areas to be annexed (by law) must be part of San Antonio's ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction).  Due to the size of the city (population of 100,000+), San Antonio is allowed to claim the land up to five miles beyond their incorporated city limit as their ETJ.  Within this ETJ, San Antonio can exercise such rights as control development and pass certain regulations.  Residents of the ETJ, however, are not allowed to vote in city elections or have access to many city services (such as police or garbage removal).  They also do not pay city taxes.

Why is the City of San Antonio annexing us?

That is the million dollar question - literally.  Actually, make it millions.  

The official story is that "the proposed annexation would protect the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and the quality of development through the extension of zoning and city codes, expand the city’s economic vitality by providing certainty and predictability, preserve the U.S. military missions through land use controls, facilitate long range planning in environmentally sensitive areas and growth centers, and enhance the City’s overall regional economic position in bringing new jobs, population, and investment to the region" (SA Department of Planning and Community Development website).

But let's unpack those words a bit.  As the Texas Municipal League states in their Annexation Cheat Sheet, "most cities annex for two basic reasons: (1) to control development; and/or (2) to expand the city's tax base."  And all of the verbiage above essentially boil down to those two reasons.  And since all of the areas to be annexed are in San Antonio's ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction), the City already has a fair amount of control over development (see the conclusion of Municipal Regulation of the ETJ published by the law offices of Brown & Hofmeister).

So back to the real issue - the City's tax base.

San Antonio has been facing budget issues for years.  In 2014, the City Council had to deal with projected deficits of between $27 million and $34 million (City Projects $27-$34 Million Deficit - Won't Rule Out Tax Increase - 1200 News Radio WOAI).  Then for the 2015 fiscal year, the City had to take drastic measures to pay for the expired police and fire union contract, delaying $14.2 million of previously budgeted projects ($14.2 Million Cut From City Budget to Pay for Expired Police, Fire Contracts - Rivard Report).

The City tried to raise the property tax revenue by increasing the appraisal value of the homes (up an average of 11% in 2015), but the backlash was swift and fierce, so the City Council is looking to make a token decrease in the tax rate to appease voters (City Emphasizes ‘Back to Basics’ Budget - Rivard Report).  Plus, many of the most affluent neighborhoods, like Alamo Heights and Shavano Park) are actually incorporated cities, and thus exempt from the City property tax (Keller Williams Realty news article).

The budgeting answer San Antonio decided upon was to annex up-and-coming areas that will greatly increase their property tax revenues.  Theoretically, a significant portion of that new revenue would need to be allocated to providing services to these newly annexed areas.  But currently the HAA is still waiting to see any land zoned by the City for fire stations, parks, libraries, schools, or police.  San Antonio is clearly trying to simply take money out of our area to cover their shortfalls within the city.

For additional reading and arguments against the City's official annexation reasoning, please see the following documents written by HAA President Mike Stewart:


What areas are being annexed?

The IH-10 West area to be annexed is quite long and follows IH-10 West up to the edge of Bexar County where it meets Kendall County.  The official map showing streets involved in the annexation can be found at the City of San Antonio's website.  It goes as far south as Sierra Hermosa and Heuermann Road and as far north as the Kendall County line.

Affected neighborhoods include those within the Cedar Creek Golf Course, portions of Cielo Vista, Walnut Pass, the Two Creeks subdivisions, Scenic Oaks on north through Trailwood and Highlands Ranch and ending with Balcones Creek.  On the other side of IH-10 West the annexation starts at Leon Springs Village and includes all neighborhoods between Ralph Fair Road and IH-10 West until the Fair Oaks Ranch municipal line.  It will also include a section north of that and west of Fair Oaks Ranch between Old Fredericksburg Road and IH-10 West up until the Kendall County line.

What did the City Council vote on when they met September 8, 2016?

The San Antonio City Council voted to include the IH-10 West area in their full-purpose annexation plan.  After including us in their official plan, the city is then not allowed to complete the annexation until three years after the area is included in the plan (see page 18 of the full Municipal Annexation in Texas published by the Texas Municipal League).

During this three-year period, the "city must begin notice, inventory, service plan, hearing, and negotiation procedures" (page 22 of MAiT).  After the prescribed public hearings, notices, etc. the City Council will be required to meet again and vote on the passage of the annexation ordinance.

The City of San Antonio had originally considered the area of only a limited-purpose annexation and not a full-purpose annexation, but it was inexplicably changed to a full-purpose annexation plan without additional notification to the area prior to the vote.

A detailed report of the City Council meeting and the annexation vote can be found at Council Approves Annexation Plans Amid Resident Protests by Rivard Report.

What is the difference between a limited-purpose annexation and a full-purpose annexation?

The HAA President Mike Stewart prepared a good overview in another speech given to the City Council, and the full notes regarding the differences between limited-purpose annexation and full-purpose (or general purpose annexation) can be read here.

Limited-purpose annexation "typically includes commercial property only.  Property taxes are not levied in this type of annexation, but the City may levy a sales tax on retail sales conducted in the area. ... Qualified voters in an area annexed for limited purposes are entitled to vote in municipal elections regarding the election or recall of members of the governing body of the municipality ... ." (Limited Purpose Annexations - City of Houston)

Essentially, the limited-purpose annexation previously proposed would have given us three years to prepare for a limited-purpose annexation, after which time we would likely still not be paying full San Antonio taxes and we would be able to vote in City elections before a full-purpose annexation would be able to take place.

The City of San Antonio had originally considered the area of only a limited-purpose annexation and not a full-purpose annexation, but it was inexplicably changed to a full-purpose annexation plan without additional notification to the area prior to the vote.

What is the current annexation process?

On September 8, 2016, the San Antonio City Council voted to include the IH-10 West area in their full-purpose annexation plan.  After including us in their official plan, the city is then not allowed to complete the annexation until three years after the area is included in the plan (see page 18 of the full Municipal Annexation in Texas published by the Texas Municipal League).

During this three-year period, the "city must begin notice, inventory, service plan, hearing, and negotiation procedures" (page 22 of MAiT).  After the prescribed public hearings, notices, etc. the City Council will be required to meet again and vote on the passage of the annexation ordinance.

During this time, our area will not be taxed but will also not have any voting rights.

I don't want this!  How can they do this?  Can't we vote against this?

Unfortunately, the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 43 allows for unilateral (non-consensual) annexation by home rule cities.  To read the full ordinance, go to the Texas Constitution and Statutes site.

Does this mean we lost the annexation fight?

It means we have only barely begun.  The City of San Antonio have indicated that they are serious about annexing us in three years (see the results of the vote above), so we need to use this window of opportunity to fight the annexation before it becomes final!

What does annexation mean for my taxes?

In broad terms, property taxes are going to go up by about 23%.  Median value for our area is $287,610.  Taxes today for a property of that value are $6,108.40.  After annexation, the property taxes would be $7,505.03, an increase of $1,396.62.  If your home value is closer to $375,000, the tax increase would amount to about $1,820.99 more you would have to pay a year over what you currently pay.  (See page 4 of HAA President Mike Stewart's Anti-Annexation Presentation from September 8th.)

Additionally, those homes in the Boerne Independent School District will continue to have to pay taxes for that school district in addition to the San Antonio city taxes.

What does annexation mean for my school district?

Thankfully, school district boundaries do not have to follow city boundaries.  The annexation of the area by the City of San Antonio will NOT affect school district boundaries.  Chapter 13 of the Texas Education Code states that moving an area from one school district to another (called "detachment and annexation of territory") requires petition approval from BOTH districts, and the petition must "be signed by a majority of the registered voters residing in the territory to be detached and annexed" (Section 13.051).

Additionally, members of our area have discussed this issue with members of the Boerne ISD Board and have been reassured that the boundaries of the school districts will not change.  It does mean that homes annexed to be part of the City of San Antonio but in the Boerne ISD will have to pay taxes to both entities.