By Andy Sevilla.
For the first time in recent history, Kyle’s property tax rate is higher than any other Hays County city this fiscal year, in part due to officials’ attempt to keep up with the infrastructure demands of a growing town.
Kyle council members approved an over two-cent ad valorem tax rate increase for Fiscal Year 2013-14 (FY14) in September, bringing the total to 54.83 cents per $100 of property valuation.
City officials said during budget deliberations that the increase was necessary to cover the increased debt the city would incur for the engineering of five city streets deemed “dangerous” by some council members.
| Property tax rates for FY 2013-2014 | |
Hays County Kyle San Marcos Buda Niederwald Uhland Dripping Springs Woodcreek Mountain City City of Hays Wimberley | .4252 .5483 .5302 .2979 .2880 .2095 .1500 .1305 .1190 .1164 .0000 |
In May, Kyle voters approved a $36 million road bond slated to reconstruct Bunton Creek, Burleson, Goforth and Lehman roads, as well as extend Marketplace Avenue. The deteriorated roads fell to ramshackle due to the city’s negligence of their maintenance. For the first time ever, the city’s budget included funding for road maintenance this fiscal year. A residents’ visioning process in 2012 identified the five roads’ improvements as priority.
For years, San Marcos—the county seat and home to Texas State University— dominated the highest property tax rate designation for Hays County cities, even though their 53.02 cents per $100 valuation tax rate has remained constant for the past five years.
Kyle has continued on a steady property tax rate climb to keep up with debt service payments and diminished fund reserves, according to Hays County tax records and city officials.
Buda’s property tax rate has also steadily climbed for the past five years, tax records show. Buda homeowners saw an over two-cent tax increase this fiscal year, to a total 29.79 cents per $100 of property valuation.
Buda city leaders said during budget talks the increase was needed for Bonita Vista roads’ reconstruction and for the construction of the Westside Well aimed at securing additional groundwater from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Hays County’s property tax rate for the past five years has remained relatively constant with slight dips from year-to-year. The county’s ad valorem tax rate this fiscal year is the same as last year’s – 46.90 cents per $100 valuation – though that figure came down from 46.91 cents and 46.92 cents for tax years 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Wimberley has no property tax, while Dripping Springs homeowners pay 15 cents per $100 valuation; last year it was 13 cents.
Aside from county and city property taxes, homeowners in Hays County also pay for school district taxes and some have emergency services district taxes, Austin Community College taxes, among others.
Local governments fund their operations through combined property and sales taxes.
