One way for students to get a head start on a new school year is to get them the tools they need to succeed -- school supplies.

Between the police union and business community, Prop A’s opponents are outspending its supporters by a nearly 9-to-1 margin.

San Antonio Police officers have approved a new union contract that would make it harder for fired cops to get their jobs back, but would also raise officers’ pay by nearly 16% over four years.

The deal includes various changes to officer disciplinary processes, including an attempt to limit an arbitrator’s power to reinstate fired cops. It also 15 percent in annual raises through FY 2026, along with a 2 percent lump sum payment to officers at the start.

As the end of it’s current five-year contract looms just 41 days away, the head of the negotiating team for San Antonio’s police union says it’s “probably more than likely” that they won’t have a new contract done before then.

Gregg Popovich has been vocal this week about his support for Proposition B on the May 1 ballot, but on Thursday declined an invitation to discuss the measure further with the head of the San Antonio Police Officers Association.

With the original, 60-day window for bargaining ending on Apr. 27, the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association have agreed to extend their negotiations for a new police contract at least through May 12. The two sides have not yet agreed on wages, healthcare, or the power of an arbitrator to overturn officer firings - a key issue in the negotiations.

The city and police union continue to butt heads over how much power an arbitrator should have to reinstate fired San Antonio police officers.

San Antonio voters who are hoping to learn more about Proposition B have the chance to hear both sides make their pitch after a debate hosted by KSAT, San Antonio Report and Bexar Facts.

The results of a newly released poll show that the fate of Prop B, a high-profile initiative that would strip San Antonio police of their collective bargaining power, looks to be a toss up with less than a month to go before the May 1 election.

SAN ANTONIO – In an update in the ongoing contract negotiations between the city and the San Antonio Police Officers Association, Mayor Ron Nirenberg met with the president of the police union on Monday. “The mayor reiterated his support for collective bargaining. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and I are both committed to working together for a safe, stronger, San Antonio,” Diaz said in the press release. Voters will be able to vote on Proposition B in May, which would repeal the police department’s collective bargaining rights if approved. AdThe SAPOA has urged voters to oppose Prop B, calling it a threat and a form of defunding.

23 -- next Tuesday -- is likely the deadline for cobbling together a deal if they want to get a new contract finalized before the May 1 election. 19 -- the same day the city and union have tentatively scheduled as the final day of negotiations. The city team, however, has said it’s “nothing more than the status quo” and has not updated its original arbitration offer. Ad“You haven’t moved an inch,” DeLord told the city team during Friday’s negotiations. It’s been our way or the highway.”Villagomez told reporters after Friday’s session that the city team would be doing some research over the coming days.

SAN ANTONIO – EDITOR’S NOTE: In the video for this story, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez is incorrectly titled Assistant City Manager. “That is the area that we are the furthest apart,” said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, who is the city’s lead negotiator. However, if non-sworn city employees get raises larger than 4% during the final, the union wants its members to get them, too. It also wants the city to match any raises above 12% that the fire union gets in its next contract. The union wants that to go down to 2% increases.

SAPOA President Danny Diaz accused Fix SAPD — the organization that spearheaded the movement behind Prop B — of lying to the voters about the true intentions of the proposal. “These organizations work on a wealth of issues from fixing police contracts to supporting candidates for some of them, district attorney reform, mobilizing black voters, aiding refugee and immigrant families. But Diaz said the repeal amounts to defunding by taking away their seat at the bargaining table. Diaz also invited Alonzio Hardin, the president of the San Antonio Black Police Officers Coalition, to speak. AdREAD MORE: Protections for police officers accused of misconduct in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – As the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association began negotiations on a new union contract Friday, it’s already clear that much of the talks will revolve around officer discipline. “We want the final discipline to be assessed by the chief or the city manager,” Villagomez said Friday after the first meeting concluded. It’s not clear yet what the union will seek out of negotiations, though final proposals are expected by the third meeting. It took more than two years before both sides ratified the last contract. Any agreement reached at the bargaining table would have to be approved by the San Antonio City Council and the SAPOA membership before it’s a done deal.

The May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked international protests, including weeks of demonstrations in San Antonio. Just yelling, yelling in their faces,” said Fix SAPD Deputy Director Ananda Tomas, who added that it was far from an isolated incident. It impacts us in a great way when we have a bully that just will not let San Antonio be, will not let San Antonio speak.”Ad“(SAPOA is) a club. Back SA Blue social media accounts have used pictures of Fix SAPD petitioners in many of their posts. Martin said any repeal measures pushed by Fix SAPD would only apply to SAPD, and not to other first responders in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO – Changes to police officer discipline will be the City of San Antonio’s focus when it meets with the San Antonio Police Officers Association next month to begin negotiations over the next police union contract. City staff laid out the city’s priorities for the upcoming collective bargaining process during Wednesday’s city council meeting. The city now seeks that all past misconduct is considered in the discipline process. Most of the department’s budget -- about $387 million -- is determined by the current union contract. The evergreen clause in effect would allow the current contract to remain in place for up to eight years if negotiations are unsuccessful.

SAN ANTONIO – Members of group whose say their goal is to hold bad San Antonio police officers accountable want to refute what they say are “false claims” about them. The San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability says it plans to call out the San Antonio Police Officers Association at a press event set for Saturday. Fix SAPD is currently campaigning to gather enough signatures from citizens to revoke two laws that they say weaken officer accountability. And I personally know these people that are all from San Antonio,” Salas said. Salas said SAPOA has falsely claimed Fix SAPD was being funded by dark money, and that their petitioners were threatening people.

The chief has been vocal in his opposition to the current union contract and how it cuts into his ability to discipline officers. The current contract expires after September but could be temporarily extended if a new agreement isn’t reached by then. Chief McManus said late last year that the current contract and state laws “protect bad officers” in an interview with KSAT. When asked about Monday’s joint press conference, City Manager Erik Walsh said the following a statement:“The key message from the press conference is that both SAPOA and the City of San Antonio are looking to improve the working relationship for the benefit of the community. Police accountability and transparency remains the top priority for the City in both the Collective Bargaining Agreement and upcoming Texas Legislative Session.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: This story is part of a series reporting on the latest Bexar Facts poll. The poll also asked voters if funds going to SAPD should be reallocated to fund other programs like mental health and substance abuse treatment. Bexar Facts poll. Bexar Facts poll. See the full poll and find more information about it on the Bexar Facts website.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: This story is part of a series reporting on the latest Bexar Facts poll. Leadership from local law enforcement agencies saw a slight dip in their approval ratings but remained largely popular, according to the latest Bexar Facts-KSAT-San Antonio Report. Voters generally approve of San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, and the San Antonio Police Officers Association. The Bexar Facts-KSAT-San Antonio report poll found that of those people surveyed in September, 61% believe local police are fair and impartial when enforcing the law. (KSAT)Of the people surveyed in September, 56% said local police officers have good relationships with communities of color in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO The San Antonio Police Officers Association president is drawing criticism after comparing an expletive recently used by Mayor Ron Nirenberg to the N-word. In a June 10 interview with KSAT, Mike Helle took issue with Mayor Ron Nirenbergs speech to people who were protesting police brutality at City Hall. If youre somebody (who grew up with) a religious upbringing, that may be comparable to using the N-word, Helle said. Helle said Garcia lost his composure when using the racial slur and that he shouldnt have said it. A KSAT analysis found that fired officers who have gone to arbitration have won their jobs back 67.5% of the time from 2010-2019.

SAN ANTONIO Mayor Ron Nirenberg released a memo calling on the City Council to adopt a resolution ahead of the next San Antonio Police Officers Association collective bargaining agreement. The resolution would outline priorities for officer disciplinary procedures and a "healthier balance across our budget." In the memo, Nirenberg called on the Public Safety Committee to review and finalize several policies for police. He said he also wants the Community Health and Equity Committee to evaluate policing practices to promote race and gender equity while reviewing de-escalation measures. Nirenberg also tapped intergovernmental relations to develop a legislative agenda involving public safety unions.

SAN ANTONIO Detective Mike Helle, the longtime president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, confirmed to KSAT Thursday that he will step down at the end of his current term. Helle told KSAT by phone Thursday that he will step down when his current term ends next February and he will also retire from the San Antonio Police Department with the rank of detective. In San Antonio, police officers who were fired ultimately were granted reinstatement in 67.5% of cases in the last decade, according to data obtained by KSAT under public information law. Helle was first elected president in 2008 and is the first president in the associations history to be elected then re-elected five times. A request for comment from the San Antonino Police Department and Mayor Ron Nirenberg was not immediately returned.

SAN ANTONIO – After the Defenders’ 'Broken Blue’ investigative special aired, viewers sent in their questions about police misconduct, disciplinary procedure and San Antonio’s collective bargaining agreement. The Defenders’ Dillon Collier will dive into those questions live on Wednesday morning. Data obtained by KSAT under public information law showed officers were granted a reinstatement after they were fired in 67.5% of cases in the last decade. Coverage in the “Broken Blue” series:Officer Michael Garza: From rising star to SAPD castoffExplained: How arbitration plays out for disciplined San Antonio police officersA lying SAPD officer was reinstated after he cited his military record. I am hoping the police union will agree that these cases tarnish and impact the community’s confidence in our police department.

Most large cities in the United States have a disciplinary appeals process for its police officers, and San Antonio is no exception. Under San Antonio police’s collective bargaining agreement, officers who have a grievance are required to file it within 21 calendar days of the event that caused it. Both the police administration and the San Antonio Police Officers Association, the local union that provides legal counsel to officers, have a say in selecting the arbitrator. While the collective bargaining agreement prescribes that grievances must be resolved within a year of when the process began, extensions can be granted. “Clearly, the current collective bargaining agreement limits the Chief’s ability to appropriately discipline officers that deserve to be disciplined.

Officers were granted a reinstatement after they were fired in 67.5% of cases in the last decade, according to data obtained by KSAT under public information law.