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San Antonio's Transit Funds Could Come From Edwards Aquifer Protection Program

A file photo of a VIA bus in San Antonio.
Ryan Loyd | Texas Public Radio
/
TPR
A VIA bus makes a stop in downtown San Antonio.

Current funding for the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program could change hands from the City to San Antonio Water System as early as next month.

Since 2000, the city has made many conservation easement purchases to protect 160,000 acres in the aquifer recharge zone from developers.

The protection program receives about $40 million annually from a portion of city sales tax allocated by Propositions 1 and 2.

Prior to 2000, SAWS purchased easements to preserve the region’s largest source of drinking water. If SAWS were to run the aquifer protection program, customers could receive a possible rate hike.

The one-eighth of a cent city sales tax now funding the program will be reallocated to fund and improve VIA Metropolitan Transit.

The decision is expected to reach voters.

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