TPR News Now: Friday, August 14, 2026

You're listening to Texas Public Radio News. I'm Marianne Navarro. The city of San Antonio is recommending increasing fees on multiple city services as part of the proposed 2027 budget. TPR's Joy Palacios reports as an effort to plug a two-year budget deficit. The city is proposing increasing more than 100 fees with the goal of generating about $15 million. For example, the max price for Alamodone parking would go from $60 to $75. Event parking at Market Square would increase from a $15 cap during events. to $30. And at the airport, Uber and Lyft fees would double to $5 per ride. City manager Eric Walsh says these adjustments help address the cost of providing the service. We need to get into a position where we are updating them for our cost of service on an annual basis. So I think this puts us on a good footing in terms of doing that going forward. One new fee would be applied to credit card usage. Under the proposed budget, the city would levy a 3% fee for using a credit card when... paying for some city services. I'm Joy Palacios in San Antonio. Council also gave an initial green light to potentially increasing the city's property tax rate for the first time in more than 30 years. The vote was 8 to 3. The proposed increase is about 2% per $100 valuation. It would raise annual property taxes by about $36 for homes valued at $230,000. And in other council news, San Antonio leaders also voted to put an initiative on the November ballot that would extend funding for pre-K for essay through 2049. TPR's education reporter Camille Phillips has more. San Antonio has asked voters to approve funding for pre-K for essay twice before, first in 2012 and again in 2020. This new proposal more than doubles the length of time funding is secured and comes to voters two years ahead of schedule. Council members Mark White, Misty Spears, and Phyllis Villagran said they felt it was too soon to bring it to voters and either voted against it or said they intended to. But proponents like Mayor Gina Ortiz Jay Jones pushed back against the idea that more research was needed to show its worth. Is there any literature across the country that ever on this topic that shows that early childhood education is not beneficial to the individual or the community? No, in fact, to the contrary. There's about 50 years worth of research that said 50. 50 years. 50 years. Yes. Jay Jones and six council members voted for the measure, securing its place on the November ballot. I'm Camille Phillips in San Antonio. Bernie's Little League team is headed back to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete for a national championship in the Little League World Series. TPR's Jack Morgan was there for their last practice before they flew out early this morning.

It's Bernie's second trip to Williamsport in three years, but coach Greg Yost says for these players, it's a once in a lifetime experience. It's a lot for 12-year-olds to manage, but they've done a great job with it, so I'm really proud of it. Player Casey Yarbrough says he's feeling good about their chances because they've done the work it takes to become champions. I was just thinking, man, Southwest, Bernie, I've always wanted to be here. I've been working so hard. Me and this team, I'm honored. Just. So honored. Bernie's team needs to win four games to become world champions. The Little Lee World Series begins Wednesday with Bernie playing its first game on Friday. You can watch the tournament on ESPN and ABC. I'm Jack Morgan in Bernie. The San Antonio Spurs have announced their regular game schedule for their upcoming season, including games in Austin and Europe. The regular season begins on October 20th at the Frost Bank Center against Oklahoma City. Three games will be played at the Moody Center in Austin. The Spurs will also play abroad in January in Paris and Manchester, England. 34 games will be nationally televised during the upcoming season. Regular season, single game tickets go on sale to the general public today at 10 a.m. at spurs.com. You're listening to Real, Reliable, Texas Public Radio.