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| Essential San Antonio |
Today, San Antonio’s City Manager oversees more than 12,000 employees in 37 departments who provide a wide range of municipal services, including law enforcement, fire fighting, waste management and road maintenance.
Registering to Vote in Texas
There are two ways to register to vote. Visit the Texas Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.tx.us, click on Voter Registration Information and complete the voter registration application card. Print it, sign and mail the form to:
Voter Registration Office
203 West Nueva, Suite 361
San Antonio, TX 78207
You can also call the Voter Registration office at 210-335-VOTE and request a voter registration application to be sent to you. Either way, complete the application completely and legibly. The application must be postmarked 30 days before an election for you to be eligible to vote in that election. For more information, visit www.sos.state.tx.us and click on Vote.
Property Taxes
While there is no personal income tax in Texas, there are property taxes, also called ad valorem taxes, which are locally assessed. Your county appraisal district appraises property located in the county, while local taxing units set tax rates and collect property taxes based on those values. Property taxes provide more tax dollars for local services in Texas than any other source – they help pay for public schools, city streets, county roads, police, fire protection and many other services.
The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector provides services for property tax collections, beer and wine permits, motor vehicle registration and titling functions.
Sales and Use Tax
State sales and use tax is imposed on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Texas cities, counties, transit authorities and special purpose districts have the option of imposing an additional local sales tax for a combined total of state and local taxes of 8.250 percent. In San Antonio, the sales rate is 8.125 percent, but the rate can vary in different areas. To find out the tax rate for a specific area, visit www.window.state.tx.us and click on Texas Taxes.
Liquor Laws
In Texas, 21 years old is the minimum age to buy or consume liquor. You can buy alcoholic beverages in a liquor store Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; liquor stores are closed on Sunday. There are no sales of liquor on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving Day. In the event that Christmas Day or New Year’s Day is on a Sunday, stores are closed the following Monday. Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores from 7 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Friday, on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. and on Sunday from noon until midnight.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in restaurants and bars from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. A late hours permit/license is available in certain areas that can extend the purchase of alcohol until 2 a.m. On Sunday, alcohol can be served with food service or at a “sporting venue” starting at 10 a.m. until midnight. Other permits may start at noon and serve till 2 a.m. with a late hours permit.
Texas also has a zero tolerance law regarding the consumption of alcohol while driving, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are strictly enforced by Texas police officers. The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), however, drivers can be stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. A first offense carries up to a $2,000 fine, 72 hours to 180 days in jail and driver’s license suspension of 90 days to one year. For drivers under 21, a first offense carries a 30-day driver’s license suspension, up to a $500 fine, eight to 12 hours of community service and mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes.
San Antonio Fire Department
Since 1891, the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) has built a strong reputation for serving the citizens of San Antonio. Services include fighting fires, emergency medical services, fire prevention and safety education. As of 2007, there were 1,041 uniformed firefighters working in 50 fire stations in the city.
To report a fire or other emergency, call 9-1-1. For more information, contact the San Antonio Fire Department Headquarters at (210) 207-8400. www.sanantonio.gov/safd
San Antonio Police Department
Serving the law enforcement needs of the community, the San Antonio Police Department consists of 2,054 sworn officers. Outside the city limits, the Bexar County’s Sheriff’s Office patrols the area.
Registering to Vote in Texas
There are two ways to register to vote. Visit the Texas Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.tx.us, click on Voter Registration Information and complete the voter registration application card. Print it, sign and mail the form to:
Voter Registration Office
203 West Nueva, Suite 361
San Antonio, TX 78207
You can also call the Voter Registration office at 210-335-VOTE and request a voter registration application to be sent to you. Either way, complete the application completely and legibly. The application must be postmarked 30 days before an election for you to be eligible to vote in that election. For more information, visit www.sos.state.tx.us and click on Vote.
Property Taxes
While there is no personal income tax in Texas, there are property taxes, also called ad valorem taxes, which are locally assessed. Your county appraisal district appraises property located in the county, while local taxing units set tax rates and collect property taxes based on those values. Property taxes provide more tax dollars for local services in Texas than any other source – they help pay for public schools, city streets, county roads, police, fire protection and many other services.
The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector provides services for property tax collections, beer and wine permits, motor vehicle registration and titling functions.
Sales and Use Tax
State sales and use tax is imposed on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Texas cities, counties, transit authorities and special purpose districts have the option of imposing an additional local sales tax for a combined total of state and local taxes of 8.250 percent. In San Antonio, the sales rate is 8.125 percent, but the rate can vary in different areas. To find out the tax rate for a specific area, visit www.window.state.tx.us and click on Texas Taxes.
Liquor Laws
In Texas, 21 years old is the minimum age to buy or consume liquor. You can buy alcoholic beverages in a liquor store Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; liquor stores are closed on Sunday. There are no sales of liquor on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving Day. In the event that Christmas Day or New Year’s Day is on a Sunday, stores are closed the following Monday. Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores from 7 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Friday, on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. and on Sunday from noon until midnight.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in restaurants and bars from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. A late hours permit/license is available in certain areas that can extend the purchase of alcohol until 2 a.m. On Sunday, alcohol can be served with food service or at a “sporting venue” starting at 10 a.m. until midnight. Other permits may start at noon and serve till 2 a.m. with a late hours permit.
Texas also has a zero tolerance law regarding the consumption of alcohol while driving, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are strictly enforced by Texas police officers. The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), however, drivers can be stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. A first offense carries up to a $2,000 fine, 72 hours to 180 days in jail and driver’s license suspension of 90 days to one year. For drivers under 21, a first offense carries a 30-day driver’s license suspension, up to a $500 fine, eight to 12 hours of community service and mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes.
San Antonio Fire Department
Since 1891, the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) has built a strong reputation for serving the citizens of San Antonio. Services include fighting fires, emergency medical services, fire prevention and safety education. As of 2007, there were 1,041 uniformed firefighters working in 50 fire stations in the city.
To report a fire or other emergency, call 9-1-1. For more information, contact the San Antonio Fire Department Headquarters at (210) 207-8400. www.sanantonio.gov/safd
San Antonio Police Department
Serving the law enforcement needs of the community, the San Antonio Police Department consists of 2,054 sworn officers. Outside the city limits, the Bexar County’s Sheriff’s Office patrols the area.
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With three military installations in San Antonio, you’ll ...
