Bexar County, Texas, Proposition B, Increase Hotel Occupancy Tax to Fund San Antonio Spurs Arena Venue Project Measure (November 2025)

Bexar County Proposition B
Election date November 4, 2025
Topic County tax and Local hotel tax
Status Approved
Type Referral

Bexar County Proposition B was on the ballot as a referral in Bexar County on November 4, 2025. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported increasing the county hotel occupancy tax to a maximum rate of 2%, for a combined rate of 17%, and using revenue from the county hotel tax and the county's short-term motor vehicle rental tax to fund the San Antonio Spurs Arena Venue Project.

A "no" vote opposed increasing the county hotel occupancy tax to a maximum rate of 2%, for a combined rate of 17%, and using revenue from the county hotel tax and the county's short-term motor vehicle rental tax to fund the San Antonio Spurs Arena Venue Project.

A simple majority vote was required to approve the measure.

Election results

Bexar County Proposition B
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		128,642	52.14%
No		118,068	47.86%

Precincts reporting: 100%
Election results are unofficial until certified. These results were last updated on November 5, 2025 at 12:33:36 AM Eastern Time.

Source

Overview

See also: Text of measure

What did Proposition B do?

Proposition B funded approximately $311 million worth of construction and development for a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team by increasing the hotel occupancy tax up to a maximum rate of 2%, for a combined rate of 17%, and dedicated revenue from the short-term motor vehicle rental tax, which is set at a rate of 5%, to the project.

What is Texas' hotel occupancy tax?

A hotel occupancy tax is a rate charged to guests for renting a room in a hotel, motel, or other short-term lodging. In Texas, all revenue generated from local hotel occupancy taxes may only be used to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industries. Additionally, local hotel occupancy tax revenue can be used for the development of stadiums, convention centers, or related infrastructure.

Who was behind the campaigns surrounding the initiative?

As of October 27, about $7.2 million had been raised for and against Proposition B. Supporters received $2 million, while opponents received approximately $200,000.

Support: Win Together, a political action committee that was aligned with the San Antonio Spurs, contributed approximately $7 million—100% of the campaign's total funds in support of Proposition B.

Opposition: Defending Public Money for Public Good PAC, which was a political action committee that is aligned with COPS/Metro Alliance, a group that is against using public money for private development, contributed approximately $220,000—100% of the campaign's total funds against Proposition B.

How was Proposition B related to Proposition A?

Proposition A provided renovations to the Frost Bank Center, which was the stadium for the San Antonio Spurs.

Support

Win Together led the campaign in support of Proposition B.

Supporters

Officials

• Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai (D)

Corporations

• San Antonio Board of REALTORS (SABOR)

Arguments

• Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai: "The Frost Bank Center cannot become the next Astrodome. That can’t happen. We have an opportunity for growth by allowing the San Antonio Rodeo, which gives $12 million a year in scholarships to its community, to continue its commitment to the East Side."
• Phil Cullen, Vice President of Basketball Organizational Development for the San Antonio Spurs: "Thousands of local jobs: construction, operations, small businesses will keep our focus on hiring locally, minority grown vendors, homegrown entrepreneurs. And here is the key, local taxpayers aren't paying more. These projects are funded through hotel and rental car taxes paid by visitors and by over $2 billion in private investment from the San Antonio Spurs. The largest in San Antonio's history, and we are covering all cost overruns."
• Peter J. Holt, Managing Partner of the San Antonio Spurs: "Proposition B helps build a downtown arena that anchors a district designed for locals first. The result will be two campuses that complement each other with one city moving forward together."

Opposition

Defending Public Money for Public Good PAC led the campaign against Proposition B.

Opponents

Former Officials

• Attorney & Former Federal Prosecutor Susan Strawn (Nonpartisan)

Organizations

• COPS/METRO Alliance
• No Project Marvel

Arguments

• Beverley McClure, a COPS/Metro leader with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish & Rev. Dr. Jerry Dailey a COPS/Metro leader and pastor with Macedonia Baptist Church: "There has been no independent review, no public oversight and no guarantee that taxpayers will ever see a return on their investment. Across the country, billionaire owners and hedge funds promise jobs, economic growth and new development if taxpayers just foot the bill. Real independent studies show those promises rarely come true and always come with hidden costs to the taxpayer."
• COPS/METRO Alliance: "Prop B would commit public tax revenues to subsidize a new downtown arena. We’re asking voters to vote NO because the deal prioritizes private profit over community needs and lacks true independent analysis."
• Joshua Garcia, member of the Bexar County Young Democrats & Kelly Ann Gonzalez, former District 6 City Council Candidate: "Supporters of Proposition B say it will catapult San Antonio into world-class status, pointing to growth and job creation. Community advocates, however, warn that this project risks deepening inequities and eroding our identity. Both sides raise valid points. Until residents have a seat at the table, San Antonio should vote “Against” Proposition B and demand a deal that is forward-thinking and community built."
• Sonia Rodriguez & Beatrice Cortez: "Proposition B is a tax increase as stated clearly on the ballot and starts a domino effect that would commit the city to hundreds of millions of more dollars in taxpayer money."
• No Project Marvel: "Together, Prop A + Prop B = Over $1.3 BILLION in taxpayer giveaways. That’s money that should fix our streets, improve drainage, strengthen public safety, expand libraries and parks, and protect our water. Instead, it would subsidize rodeo halls and a luxury arena."

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition B was as follows:

“

THIS IS A TAX INCREASE. Authorizing Bexar County, Texas to provide for the planning, acquisition, establishment, development, construction, or renovation of a new multipurpose arena designed primarily as the home venue for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, and to be used for other purposes including, but not limited to, facilities for semi-professional, collegiate, and amateur basketball games, concerts, entertainment events, community events, and conventions (the “Arena Venue Project”), and related infrastructure, a venue project of the type described in and as authorized by Chapter 334, Texas Local Government Code, as amended (the “Act”) and as designated and described by the County's resolution dated June 10, 2025 (the “Resolution”); and (i) to increase the County hotel occupancy tax to a maximum rate of two percent (2%), for the purpose of financing the Arena Venue Project and approving the Resolution, pursuant to Subchapter H of the Act, and if approved, the maximum hotel occupancy tax rate imposed from all sources in Bexar County would be 17.00% of the price paid for a room in a hotel; and (ii) to authorize the use of the existing County short-term motor vehicle rental tax at a maximum rate of five percent (5%) on the gross rental receipts from the rental of motor vehicles in Bexar County, pursuant to Subchapter E of the Act, for the purpose of financing the Arena Venue Project, and approving the Resolution.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Media editorials

See also: 2025 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

The following media editorial board published an editorial supporting the ballot measure:

• San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board: "The arrangement is an objectively sound and equitable deal that establishes a public-private approach to achieving the kind of bold vision for San Antonio’s urban core that has eluded our city for decades."

Opposition

The following media editorial boards published an editorial opposing the ballot measure:

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls and 2025 ballot measure polls

Bexar County, Texas, Proposition B, Increase Hotel Occupancy Tax to Fund San Antonio Spurs Arena Venue Project Measure (November 2025)

Poll	Dates	Sample size	Margin of error	Support	Oppose	Undecided
UT San Antonio Question "Next, we are going to show you the text of two propositions that will be on the November ballot. Please tell us if you plan to vote For or Against each proposition. BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSITION - B THIS IS A TAX INCREASE. 'Authorizing Bexar County, Texas to provide for the planning, acquisition, establishment, development, construction, or renovation of a new multipurpose arena designed primarily as the home venue for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, and to be used for other purposes including, but not limited to, facilities for semi-professional, collegiate, and amateur basketball games, concerts, entertainment events, community events, and conventions (the 'Arena Venue Project'), and related infrastructure, a venue project of the type described in and as authorized by Chapter 334, Texas Local Government Code, as amended (the 'Act') and as designated and described by the County's resolution dated June 10, 2025 (the 'Resolution'); and (i) to increase the County hotel occupancy tax to a maximum rate of two percent (2%), for the purpose of financing the Arena Venue Project and approving the Resolution, pursuant to Subchapter H of the Act, and if approved, the maximum hotel occupancy tax rate imposed from all sources in Bexar County would be 17.00% of the price paid for a room in a hotel; and (ii) to authorize the use of the existing County short-term motor vehicle rental tax at a maximum rate of five percent (5%) on the gross rental receipts from the rental of motor vehicles in Bexar County, pursuant to Subchapter E of the Act, for the purpose of financing the Arena Venue Project, and approving the Resolution.'"	Oct. 1, 2025–Oct. 3, 2025	660 LV	± 3.80%	40.0%	46.0%	14.0%
Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Path to the ballot

On February 4, 2025, the Bexar County Commissioners Court authorized County Judge Peter Sakai to negotiate with the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Spurs on a Memorandum of Understanding for exploring the details of Proposition B. The Memorandum of Understanding was approved by the Commissioners Court on March 25, 2025.

The Commissioners Court approved a motion directing the County Manager, David L. Smith, to prepare a draft resolution that described the proposal on May 27, 2025.

On June 10, 2025, the Commissioners Court approved a motion to seek state approval for the proposition by a 4-1 vote, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody voting against it. The Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts determined that the approval and implementation of the resolution would have no significant negative impact on state revenue, thereby authorizing Bexar County to place the proposition on the ballot for voter consideration.

Proposition B was put on the ballot through a vote of the Bexar County Commissioners Court on August 5, 2025.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Texas

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Texas.

How to vote in Texas

Poll times

In Texas, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old. An individual may also not be a convicted felon whose sentence, including probation or parole, is not complete, or declared mentally incapacitated by a court.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations, including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

State law requires election officials to conduct a check of registered voters' citizenship status. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:

“

The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen or a resident of the county in which the voter is registered to vote, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.

”

In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days. The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April. A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Two states, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted IDs was current as of December 2025. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS Texas Handgun License issued by DPS United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph United States passport (book or card) With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

”

Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:

“

copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate; copy of or original current utility bill copy of or original bank statement copy of or original government check copy of or original paycheck copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

”

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:

• Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption by presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed and voters affected by a natural disaster declarated by the governor or president of the United States may "vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar’s office within six (6) calendar days after election day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for the voter’s ballot to be counted."

To view Texas law pertaining to voter identification, click here.

Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• Local hotel tax ballot measures
• County tax ballot measures

Texas

• Texas 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Texas
• Bexar County, Texas

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas