Amid a Spurs playoff run electrifying San Antonio, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones pushed Spurs ownership to cough up money she said it owes the city and asked one of its deep-pocketed owners to chip in for a new arena.

Jones sent separate letters last month to Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman Peter J. Holt and tech billionaire Michael Dell, a minority owner of SS&E. From Holt, she's looking for the Spurs to make good on a decade-old soccer deal gone sideways, while she asked Dell to consider covering part, or even all, of the city's share of a new, downtown arena.

Her requests come as the city faces a budget crunch and considers the possibility of raising property taxes for the first time in 33 years.