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 2023 estimated population of 2,164,024.
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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 $0.01787 (1.787 cents) per $100 assessed property valuation. The average annual tax is $55.13. The adopted FY 2024-2025 budget is $373.8 million.
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
$373.8 Million
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Budget Reports
The budget process kicks off with Strategic Planning sessions in December. Following strategic planning departments begin building their departmental budgets and while project managers begin the process for proposing a new project or requesting additional funding for an active project. In March, the management team reviews the requested budgets, and the proposed budget is finalized in May. The River Authority Board of Director’s is given the proposed budget in May and adopts the budget in June. The following is a more detailed general calendar.
Budget Reports
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.