Slowdown in police hiring becomes point of contention in San Antonio's proposed city budget

San Antonio has asked its police and fire departments along with Animal Care Services to cut their spending by 1% over the next two years to help cover the city's pending $172.62 million budget deficit, City Manager Erik Walsh told City Council Thursday. Even so, the budget cuts being asked of various city departments aren't nearly as severe as they could have been, thanks to city-owned CPS Energy, which will contribute $70 million to city coffers over the next two years by selling excess power to nearby municipalities. San Antonio residents also shouldn't expect see property tax increases over the next two years in response to the deficit.