Kyle officials are planning for the future and developed a new budget for fiscal year 2023-24 that highlights investments in the city's employees and residents. City Council adopted the budget and the city's new, lower tax rate Sept. 19.

Who it affects

The city of Kyle makes up just over a fifth of residents' property tax bills at 21%. The county's school district, Hays CISD, makes up just over half of residents' bills.
The budget was prepared using $0.5082 per $100 valuation as the tax rate, from the previous budget, but City Council adopted a tax rate of $0.4693 per $100 valuation. Despite the continued rate decreases, the city is set to generate more revenue than in previous years as Hays County remains a hot spot for market value.

Budget explained

The budget comes with expenditures set at $272 million and total revenue set at $198 million; a beginning balance of $199 million offsets the expenditures. Ultimately, the city ends the 2023-24 fiscal year with $125 million left over, according to agenda documents.


Some notable expenditures within the budget include:
  • $100,000 for a mental health and behavioral program
  • $300,000 for the Uber Kyle $3.14 program
  • $10.5 million for Downtown Master Plan, other developments
  • $3.9 million for "high-priority" road projects
Ridership of the city's Uber program has increased by more than 30% in the past couple years; as such, the funding will go to subsidize more rides throughout the year.

Goforth Road, Dacy Lane and Kohlers Crossing are a few of the projects listed as "high priority," along with 2022 road bond projects.

There's also $5.5 million allocated for merit increases, medical insurance, a compensation study and other employee-related expenses.

Another $3 million was allocated for 33 new full-time positions for various city departments:
  • Building: 1
  • City manager: 2
  • City secretary: 1
  • Communications:1
  • Engineering: 2
  • Beautification: 3
  • Facilities: 2
  • Financial services: 3
  • Library: 1
  • Parks: 8
  • Police: 6
  • Public works: 3
Items worth mentioning


The fees for water, wastewater and storm drain fees will remain the same in FY 2023-24, but the solid waste service fee will be increasing by $2.52.

There are a handful of new programs or services on the horizon the city earmarked funds for but are not expected to be used until 2025 at the earliest:
  • $400,000 for an outdoor nature center
  • $150,000 for Seton park development
  • $210,000 for community gardens at Seton park
  • $250,000 for Kohlers Crossing illumination
  • $$250,000 for a community center project
What's next?

The budget and tax rate go into effect Oct. 1.