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San Antonio News Today: Property Taxes Rise, Hemisfair Patrols Increase, NIOSA Pauses and Local Research Targets Brain Health

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas | September 21, 2026

San Antonio begins the week with major developments involving the city budget, downtown public safety, one of Fiesta's most recognizable traditions, medical research and assistance for residents affected by recent storms.

City Council has approved San Antonio's first property-tax-rate increase in more than three decades as officials address a projected budget shortfall. Police are increasing their presence around Hemisfair following several violent incidents. A Night in Old San Antonio will not return for Fiesta 2027, and new research from UT Health San Antonio suggests that lowering blood pressure may help slow disease affecting small blood vessels in the brain.

Here's a closer look at some of the biggest stories affecting the Alamo City.

San Antonio Approves $4.4 Billion Budget and Higher Property-Tax Rate

San Antonio City Council approved its $4.4 billion fiscal year 2027 budget Thursday as city leaders worked to close a projected shortfall of nearly $158 million through fiscal 2028.

The city's property-tax rate will increase from 54.159 cents to 56.288 cents per $100 of taxable value. City officials estimate that an average homeowner receiving a homestead exemption will pay approximately $2.95 more per month, or roughly $35 per year, in city property taxes.

The budget passed amid disagreement over whether San Antonio should raise the rate or make additional spending reductions. The tax increase passed the council 7-4, with Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones among those voting against it. Supporters argued that deeper cuts could significantly affect city services, while opponents argued the city should have found additional reductions before increasing taxes.

The adopted plan already includes nearly $90 million in spending reductions over two years, alongside new or adjusted fees and other revenue. The city says funding continues for priorities including police and fire services, streets, housing, homelessness programs, parks and libraries.

For residents, the budget debate now shifts from City Hall to implementation. The new fiscal year begins October 1.

SAPD Increases Patrols Around Hemisfair

San Antonio police have increased their presence in and around Hemisfair following several recent violent incidents downtown.

Police records reviewed by the San Antonio Express-News showed two shootings and two thefts at Hemisfair over roughly a two-week period, along with a shooting, armed robbery and reports of gunfire in a nearby parking area.

SAPD said it deployed additional downtown and bicycle patrol officers and is coordinating with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and city officials.

A larger shift arrives September 26, when SAPD plans to assign 45 patrol officers and five sergeants to areas including the River Walk, Travis Park and Hemisfair as part of a restructuring involving San Antonio Park Police.

The increased attention comes as Hemisfair continues to play a larger role in the city's long-term downtown development plans, including the planned new Spurs arena.

NIOSA Will Not Take Place During Fiesta 2027

One of San Antonio's most familiar Fiesta traditions is hitting the pause button.

The Conservation Society of San Antonio announced that A Night in Old San Antonio, better known as NIOSA, will not be held in 2027 as the organization reevaluates the event's future.

According to reporting by Texas Public Radio and the San Antonio Report, attendance has declined substantially since the pandemic and the event has posted financial losses for several years. The Conservation Society's board voted 17-10 to suspend the event.

Conservation Society President Betty Bueché said roughly $600,000 in sponsorship support would be needed to better protect the organization against another potential financial loss. Organizers have not established a timetable for NIOSA's return.

NIOSA has operated for 78 years and has historically served as the Conservation Society's largest fundraiser, supporting historic-preservation projects, educational programs and grants.

The organization says the pause does not mean its broader preservation work is ending. What happens to NIOSA itself, however, remains one of the biggest cultural questions heading toward Fiesta 2027.

UT Health San Antonio Research Links Lower Blood Pressure to Better Brain Outcomes

San Antonio is also making news in medical research.

A new study involving researchers at UT Health San Antonio found that lowering systolic blood pressure was associated with slower progression of cerebral small vessel disease, a condition associated with stroke, cognitive decline and dementia.

Researchers analyzed brain-scan data from adults over 50 with high blood pressure. Participants assigned a lower blood-pressure target showed an almost 40% slower progression of small vessel disease than those assigned the higher target, according to the study.

Researchers emphasized that the findings concern an association observed in the study population and said additional research involving broader patient groups, including people with diabetes, stroke and dementia, is warranted.

The findings have particular relevance locally. Data cited by the Express-News indicated that more than a third of San Antonio adults had high blood pressure in 2023.

Major K-pop Festival at Alamodome Postponed Until 2027

Music fans expecting a major international event at the Alamodome next month will have to wait.

The KPOPWORLD Festival & Worldwide Dance Competition, originally scheduled for October 28 through October 31, has been postponed until 2027 because organizers said visa delays were creating uncertainty around the appearance of international performers.

The festival had been promoted as a major Texas K-pop and K-hip-hop event featuring artists including Jay Park, The Rose, Wonho, Dayoung and Cravity, along with a dance competition involving teams from 29 countries.

Organizers said they chose to postpone rather than move forward with a substantially reduced lineup.

Ticketmaster is expected to refund current ticket purchases to the original payment method, while existing ticket holders are expected to receive presale access when tickets for the rescheduled event become available.

Federal Disaster Loans Available After August Storms

Residents and business owners still dealing with damage from severe storms on August 28 may now be eligible for federal assistance.

The U.S. Small Business Administration approved disaster assistance covering Bexar, Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties.

Eligible homeowners may apply for loans of up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence, while homeowners and renters may qualify for as much as $100,000 for damaged personal property. Businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations may apply for physical-disaster loans of up to $2 million.

SBA representatives are assisting applicants at Las Palmas Library, 515 Castroville Road in San Antonio. Walk-ins are accepted, according to TPR.

For residents still dealing with roof, vehicle, appliance or other storm-related damage, this is one of the week's more practical developments to watch.

Downtown Stabbing Investigation Continues

San Antonio police are also investigating an apparently random stabbing near the Bexar County Jail.

According to an initial police report, a 39-year-old man was walking in the 1300 block of West Commerce Street Saturday evening when another man allegedly attacked him without warning and stabbed him in the abdomen.

The victim was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The attacker left before officers arrived and had not been identified in the initial report.

The case remains under investigation.

What San Antonio Is Watching Next

San Antonio enters the final days of September with several stories that could have lasting consequences.

The city's new budget will begin reshaping spending and tax bills when the fiscal year starts October 1. SAPD's expanded downtown deployment begins this week. Fiesta organizers will face questions about what a 2027 celebration looks like without NIOSA, while residents and businesses affected by August storms now have another path to seek financial assistance.

At the same time, developments such as UT Health San Antonio's brain-health research highlight another part of the city's identity that can sometimes get buried beneath daily headlines: San Antonio continues to play an increasingly important role in medicine, science and research.

From City Hall to Hemisfair, the Alamodome and the Medical Center, this week's news is touching nearly every corner of the city.

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