Welcome to the
Office of the County Manager
On July 12, 2011, Bexar County Commissioners Court established the Office of the County Manager in an effort to develop a more effective and cost-efficient re-organization of the functions, offices and departments that report to Commissioners Court. I am honored to serve the Bexar County community in the role as County Manager.
I am mindful of the need to address demands for new and better services for our growing population. With the support of Commissioners Court, I would like to share a number of important priorities for the new year, and some of the steps I am taking and expect to take to move these initiatives forward:
- SERVICES TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA: In spite of limited revenue growth, the population of the County is projected to continue to grow. Working with County offices and departments, I already have staff identifying the demand for new services that this population growth will create. Over the next year, we will identify all legal tools and practical options available to provide more “city-like” services to these areas.
- CULTURAL AND HISTORIC COUNTY ASSETS PROGRAM: Bexar County is blessed to have a number of County-owned historic and cultural assets. One of the most obvious of these assets is our historic Courthouse. In order to insure that we identify, preserve, highlight, and where appropriate augment these treasures, we have established a Cultural and Historic County Asset program. This program is charged with bringing greater public awareness to these County assets.
- BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM: In 2008, Commissioners Court took the extraordinary action of allocating general fund money for the institution of a Mental Health Court and for the enhanced provision of services by the Center for Health Care Services. This effort will remain a high priority of the County Manager’s office and we will provide assistance and support to the MHC.
- COORDINATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION: Bexar County has made great strides over the past few years in initiating programs to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in our adult detention center, as well as identifying ways to reduce their length of stay, all while preserving public safety.
- TRANSPORTATION: Bexar County Commissioners Court has historically taken a leadership role in identifying and solving important transportation issues in the County. Recently, the Advanced Transportation District, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County have worked together to plan and fund a new mass transit initiative for our community. This street car initiative, first brought forward by VIA Metropolitan Transit, would establish a starter system for a downtown street car system. It would also improve bus-based transit by establishing East and West Multimodal Centers to help relieve downtown streets of much of the bus transfer traffic, and simultaneously help increase ridership and economic development around the two Multimodal Centers.
My office will continue our diligent, proactive efforts to ensure the Bexar County community remains an exceptional place to live and a desired place to visit.
Thank you,
DAVID L. SMITH
Bexar County Manager