Kyle voters will head to the polls Saturday to elect a new council member for District 3. One of three at-large positions on the council, the District 3 seat was vacated when former Councilman Chad Benninghoff resigned due to a move out of the state. The three contenders include Planning and Zoning Commission member Shane Arabie and two former candidates for council, Bill Sinor and Laurie Luttrell. Community Impact Newspaper asked Luttrell and Sinor for their thoughts regarding policy issues in Kyle ahead of Election Day. Arabie did not respond to the questionnaire.
1. What aspect of the city's budget deserves the most attention?
Sinor: There is not a "cookie cutter" answer for this question. Each part of the budget is very important and deserves to be completely reviewed. Each department head and his/her staff has put many hours into preparing their budget report/request. I look forward to reviewing all the department budgets and working with council to work through them and arrive at something we all can approve and adopt.
Luttrell: The proposed FY 2014-2015 budget is 371 pages long and accounts for $53.8 million in expenditures. The entire budget deserves the council's full attention, as the city's programs are complex and inter-related. For example, the city obviously needs staff to keep it running and personnel are included throughout the budget. Public safety (police, fire and EMS) is critical in saving lives. To pay for the expensive costs of public safety, we must continue to grow our tax base through economic development (Planning and Development Department) and providing infrastructure (Public Works). Debt service also influences our tax rate. I would encourage citizens to attend and participate in the budget workshops currently ongoing. A schedule is available on the city's website.
2. Why should voters choose you?
Sinor: I care. I care about this city. I care about the growth, the jobs. Kyle is no longer a "sleepy bedroom community." We cannot afford to have a council member think that we are small or not growing. This city deserves and needs a council member who is 100 percent for responsible growth and also realizes it is time some things change.
Luttrell: I care passionately about my community and I will represent the citizens of our city, not special interests or specific groups. I am not a politician, but a small business owner, a wife and mother. My daughter recently graduated from high school and I have the time it requires to devote to being a council member. Moreover, I have the life experiences and skills for making tough decisions and negotiating well with other council members.
3. What is the most pressing issue facing the city?
Sinor: Infrastructure and roads. Without either, we cannot grow. Our property taxes are way too high. [If] we take care of the infrastructure and road issues, then we would be able to bring in new business. With new business comes increased sales tax revenue, and with more sales tax revenue we can then lower property taxes. There is more to do here than just infrastructure and roads, but we have to address these areas first to get to the others.
Luttrell: As one of the fastest growing cities in Central Texas along the I-35 corridor, we are facing multiple issues that cannot be separated so simply. We need to improve our infrastructure (roads, water and wastewater) to continue to attract new businesses and high-paying employers and continue to provide new housing. At the same time, however, we must work diligently to structure our debt service to keep our tax rate as low as possible.
Because District 3 is an at-large position, any Kyle resident can vote in the special election between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the following locations:
- Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, Kyle, Texas
- Wallace Middle School, 1500 West Center Street, Kyle, Texas
- Chapa Middle School, 3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, Texas