Open records quiz: Can officials question your motives and withhold documents from you?
The motives of the person requesting the information has no bearing on whether a document is public.
Bexar County
Developers get tax breaks, while the poor get not-so-affordable housing
Struggling families paid as much as $1,040 a month in rent last year for a three-bedroom apartment.
How much did it cost to save the Alamo?
One of the cool features of Bexar County’s digital archive is that you can do crazy keyword searches for people like “David Crockett” and other historic figures in San Antonio to discover deeds and other public records filed in their name. Some of these records document important events in the city’s history. Out of curiosity, … Read more
How to research a property’s history using Bexar County’s free records search
You can also be your own title company and conduct your own research for any property.
A history lesson about old neighborhoods and race in San Antonio
The old but well-constructed houses in my neighborhood near Woodlawn Lake have always interested me. The homes are all different — my house is stucco, while my neighbor’s house is brick. But they share stylistic touches, like the tiny octangular bathroom tiles, the smooth fireplaces, and the phone nooks built in the walls. There must … Read more
About that $5.5 million debt, Mr. Leibowitz
Reporter Karisa King wrote a story published Sunday that revealed state Rep. David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio, is accused of defaulting on $5.5 million in debt. Aside from being an interesting read (Leibowitz denies owing that much money), the story is a good example of the power of public documents. Related: Different ways to contact a … Read more
Southwest Airlines ticket scandal: Find out which public officials bought tickets
Express-News Reporter Guillermo Contreras has been covering an unusual scandal at the Bexar County courthouse: Thousands of stolen airline tickets were sold at a discount to county employees — including judges and other public officials: What happens in Las Vegas may stay in Vegas, but how you got there apparently doesn’t — at least not … Read more
How to lower your property taxes: miniature donkeys?
Texas relies heavily on property taxes to raise revenue, and homeowners have a right to protest the appraised value of their land set by county officials. The lower the appraisal, the lower the tax bill. Express-News Reporter Karisa King has been examining a county database that tracks protests filed by homeowners. She obtained the data … Read more
Search a Bexar County database to learn who’s disputing their property appraisals
Using the Texas Public Information Act, reporter Karisa King obtained a huge database that tracks property tax protests in Bexar County and San Antonio. She analyzed the data and here’s what she found: Everybody wants lower property taxes. But those with the least ability to pay rarely protest their appraised values, while owners of upscale … Read more