Led by Mayor Todd Webster, elected officials, city staff representatives and members of the local business community joined in predicting a more viable economic future for Kyle in the wake of the Hays CISD school board’s vote tonight approving a freeport exemption for area businesses, thus thrusting Kyle and Buda into the list of communities known as "triple freeport."
The board voted 6-0, with Sandra Bryant, who is not seeking re-election to the board in May, abstaining, to grant a property tax exemption to non-petroleum related inventory held by a company for less than 175 days. The district joins the City of Kyle and Hays County in granting the exemption, hence the "triple freeport" designation, a label that has proved to be a business-location magnet in other areas of Texas.
"I’m really appreciative, I’m very glad they did it," Mayor Webster said. "It has the potential to be a game-changer for the City of Kyle and our economic development efforts. It’s been a long time coming and I’m very appreciative they decided to do it. I don’t think they are going to regret it for a minute. It’s a wonderful economic development opportunity for the city. What that might mean in additional tax revenue, not only for the city but also for the school district, will more than compensate for whatever is lost through the actual exemptions. And the way the statute is structured, the school district really doesn’t lose anything anyway.
"I’m confident it’s going to work out great," the mayor continued. "It shows that the members who supported it were listening to the facts and that they conducted an appropriate analysis on what this would mean to the community and the district.. Good job by them."
Webster’s sentiments were echoed by Kyle’s Economic Development Director Diana Torres, council member Travis Mitchell and Chamber of Commerce CEO Julie Snyder.
"This is a huge move forward for the whole entire Hays ISD school district area, including the cities of Kyle and Buda," Ms. Torres said. "We all partnered very well together to make this happen and we see some big things in our future."
"I’m proud of the school board," Mitchell said. ‘They were making a sound decision for the future of Kyle and Buda."
"I feel very good," Ms. Snyder said moments after the vote was taken. "I feel great. This means added resources for the district, for the community, new businesses."
During discussion on the issue, board trustee Willie Tenorio said he was compelled to address what he labeled "the elephant in the room."
"I didn’t want to bring this up, but I’ve had some requests from people to talk about it," Tenorio said. "Behind the scenes I was getting a lot of attacks from a small group of gentlemen on the City Council of Kyle, It seems like they were hoping I would stop asking questions. I’ve noticed a lot of Kyle politics has gotten really dirty lately."
Mitchell said he was baffled by Tenorio’s remarks.
"I have no idea what that was about," Mitchell said, without even having to be asked a question about what Tenorio said. "Everything I’ve said on freeport is public. I’ve published on it. I’ve only met with trustee Bryant and trustee (Esperanza) Orosco on the issue."
Webster was more blunt when he learned of Tenorio’s statement.
"Willie is a knucklehead," the mayor said. "And you can quote me on that."
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