District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears Votes Against SAWS Rate Increase

San Antonio District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears voted against a proposed San Antonio Water System rate increase on Oct. 8, citing concerns about transparency, accountability and the financial impact on local families.

Spears said she was disappointed with how the rate increase was approached, communicated and presented to the City Council and the public. She described the process as mishandled from the beginning.

The councilwoman acknowledged that SAWS has infrastructure needs but argued that residents should not be expected to carry the financial burden of decisions delayed for years. She also pointed to a recent property tax increase and raised concerns about asking families to absorb additional water bill increases over the next four years.

“While not opposed to investing in our infrastructure, we can’t ask our residents to commit to years of rate increases without the level of transparency, accountability, and oversight they deserve,” Spears said.

Spears called for SAWS to justify rate increases one year at a time. Under her proposed approach, the utility would provide clear spending expectations and measurable results before returning to the council to seek additional increases.

“That is not unreasonable. That is accountability,” she said.

She also raised concerns about what she described as a lack of meaningful public engagement and said council members must remain accountable for decisions that directly affect residents.

Spears said she remains committed to representing District 9 residents and protecting their money. She said San Antonio needs a sustainable infrastructure plan as well as a sustainable plan for household budgets.

“For those reasons, I cannot support this proposal as presented, and will be voting no on the SAWS rate increase today,” Spears said.