Residents of a small Northwest San Antonio suburb will vote May 3 on a proposal to strip its police officers’ union of the right to collectively bargain.
If passed, the proposal would eliminate the ability of local police officers to negotiate employment terms such as wages, benefits, and working conditions.
On March 17, Sen. José Menéndez and Balcones Heights Police Chief John Jahanara with the San Antonio Police Officers Association planned to speak about the “critical implications” of Proposition A at a press conference.
“The proposition, if passed, would eliminate the ability of local police officers to negotiate employment terms such as wages, benefits, and working conditions, stripping them of their collective bargaining rights,” SAPOA said in its press release. “Proposition A is a pivotal issue for local law enforcement, and speakers will emphasize why a ‘No’ vote on Proposition A is necessary to protect both the rights of officers and the safety of the community.”
But that event was canceled and was never rescheduled. Menéndez did not respond to multiple requests for information, and SAPOA said it had no information to share.
Balcones Heights voters will also vote in contested races for three City Council seats, including District 3.
Since then, several officials, including the Balcones Heights Police Officers Association, have publicly rejected repealing the collective bargaining agreement and taking away the ability for the police department to unionize in the future.
According to the ballot, a “for” vote supports a repeal. People in favor of the repeal say the proposal would help save money, but opponents argue the move would affect the retention and quality of police officers, possibly impacting public safety.
If approved, it would go into effect in 2027 when the current contract with the Balcones Heights police union expires.
So how did Proposition A make it on to the ballot?
The city has been facing budget woes since 2024, a combination of revenue loss from its red light camera program that ended last year, the newly negotiated agreement with the Balcones Heights Police Officers Association, and raising health benefit costs for city employees.
The city said its plan to bounce back would be a slow process, but now, its leaders face tough decisions, including repealing the collective bargaining agreement to control salary increases, increase property taxes to generate additional revenue, transition police dispatch services to Bexar County, and layoff city staff in fire, police and administrative departments.
The city says repealing the collective bargaining agreement wouldn’t reduce the salaries police officers currently have. Instead, it would end automatic pay increases and base them on officer performance.
