Although the city is awaiting the final number from the Hays County Tax Assessor/Collector, Finance Director Perwez A. Moheet told the city council during its budget workshop today, in which the city manager unveiled his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, that he (Moheet) expects the city’s property tax rate will decrease by 2.6 percent.
City Manager Scott Sellers’ proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22 was largely unchanged from the proposal he outlined to council last month, but the council unanimously approved two significant amendments to that budget today — the addition of two patrol officers to the Police Department and another assistant/deputy city manager. Sellers currently has two staff members who act as his assistants, Assistant City Manager James Earp and Chief of Staff Jerry Hendrix. Traditionally, assistant city managers serve as the liaisons between department heads and the city manager.
But arguably the most important question facing residents — exactly how much more property owners will have to pay in ad valorem taxes — did not receive a definitive answer, because, as Moheet explained, the HCTAC has not determined the actual tax rates municipalities in the county may assess. But Moheet did say tax bills property owners begin receiving in the fall will be significantly higher than they were last year because the Hays Central Appraisal District assessed valuations for properties in Kyle were 14.1 percent higher this year than in 2020 — $4.2 billion in total valuations this year as compared to $3.7 billion last year. And because, unlike the city, which will lower its tax rate, the Hays Consolidated School District, which accounts for more than 50 percent of a property owner’s tax bill, has historically maintained or even increased its tax rate in order to finance its voter-approved construction costs as well as its operating budget.
Both Moheet and Sellers said they expected the actual tax rate recommendation will be available by Aug. 17, when the council’s next budget workshop is scheduled, but Moheet, who historically has been absolutely precise in his forecasts, said he expects the next fiscal year’s rate to be $.5065 per $100 valuation, down from the current rate of $.5201.
Council member Dex Ellison officially proposed amending the budget to add two more patrol officers to the police force, financed largely by cutting a proposed lobbyist from the budget. Police Chief Jeff Barnett said, however, those costs for the additional officers could be paid by increased revenue from fines that will be produced by police resuming practices that were curtailed by the pandemic, such as serving warrants, expired motor vehicle registration stickers and stricter enforcement of minor traffic regulations.
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Koch proposed the addition of another assistant manager, noting that at the last meeting it was discussed that Sellers “needed help.”
“That was my big takeaway from the last meeting — how much time Scott puts into this job,” Koch said. “It’s obvious to everybody that he needs more help … so that we can run more efficiently. So I asked him what he truly needed to keep pushing the city forward. The idea of a second assistant city manager position came up to be able to relieve him of a lot of his duties so he can spend more time doing the other things we need him to do.”
Sellers thanked the council for their consideration of another assistant, stressing “It was nothing that I asked for.”
“I would guess that we are the fastest growing city in America,” Sellers said. “If we’re not, we’re right there at the top — 10 percent growth has been historically the fastest growing. Some of the cities listed as the fastest growing are 8 or 9 percent and we’re 10. And if you compare our staffing levels to other cities of our size it’s disproportionate right now.”
Even with that growth, however, Sellers said. “When the mayor pro tem brought this idea to me, my first blush was to say ‘no’. But the more I’ve thought about this and the more research I’ve done on this, the more I think it does make sense, especially in the light of where this council is going.
“This council is definitely the most proactive council that I’ve ever worked with, hands down,” he said. “The expectation of council is super elevated, which is a great thing. Your foot has been on the gas pedal to match that growth rate and it has not come off and I think that’s a fantastic thing.”
Sellers said reacting to the council’s activism and focus “has been a great growing opportunity for me, very much a learning opportunity, but it has shifted my role from traditional management to be more 30,000 foot, from a planning aspect to meeting with outside entities, contract support/negotiation. So there’s just been a lot of additional council support that’s been incorporated into the role of the city manager that was not there before.
“I see that (additional assistant city manager) position continuing that transition,” he said. “I see this council continuing to push for excellence, which is perfect for the city of Kyle. We are a gold-standard city.
“So just to meet that demand of epic growth, to meet that demand of council and the push for excellence, I think this position is needed.”
The first readings of budget and property tax rate ordinances are scheduled for the council’s meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 17, and the second and final passage of the ordinances are set for Wednesday, Aug. 25.
“All Kyle residents, taxpayers, business owners, and interested persons are invited to attend the city council’s (upcoming two) budget meetings and public hearings to provide their comments to the council,” the city said today. “An electronic copy of the city manager’s proposed operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 will be available on the city's website beginning Aug. 2. A printed copy of the complete proposed budget document will also be available for public inspection during business hours at City Hall and at the Kyle Public Library.”
(Editor’s note: A PDF of the city manager’s proposed budget can be found at file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Proposed_Budget_-_Worksession_%233__7-31-2021%20(1).pdf)
No comments:
Post a Comment