A new study by the web site WalletHub.com places San Antonio in the lower half of the 150 cities it studied nationwide based on the quality of the city management, a study which was immediately challenged by city officials, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
According to the study, San Antonio is the 88th 'best run' city in America. In fact, according to WalletHub, San Antonio is far from being among the best run cities in Texas, with most of the other big cities in the state, including Austin, Houston, Ft. Worth, Corpus Christi and El Paso, being ranked as being 'better run' than San Antonio.
WalletHub says it studied 33 'relevant metrics,' including financial stability, schools, health, safety, and economic performance, to rank the 150 cities.
But City spokesman Jeff Coyle disputed the study, saying the best measurement of a city government's efficiency is the ratings from the three big ratings agencies.
"San Antonio is top rated by all three of the credit rating agencies, which have a much more sophisticated analysis of city management than 'Wallet Hub.'
He also questioned WalletHub's methodology, saying many of the items they studied have nothing whatsoever to do with city government.
"The schools, the high school graduation rate, the number of hospital beds per capita."
The study gave special attention to many of the categories which are considered to be the basis of a growing city today, from walkability to bicycle use, transit, and traffic congestion.San Antonio ranks lowest in public safety.
The city also ranks poorly in infrastructure and pollution and health, but ranks well in economy and in financial stability.
Nampa Idaho and Provo Utah were the best run cities in the USA, according to the survey.
Coyle pointed out that those cities are far 'less complex' than a large city like San Antonio.