BUDA — After serving as a regional shelter for Hays County since 2012, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter announced in 2024 that it will no longer make its services available to the cities of Kyle and Buda. At its Jan. 20 meeting, Buda City Council voted to further an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the city of Kyle and Hays County to shelter animals going forward.
On the same night, Kyle City Council agreed to the contract on its end. The Hays County Commissioners Court gave its approval on Jan. 6.
Under the ILA, a new shelter will be constructed on land already owned by Kyle. According to Buda Police Chief Bo Kidd, a portion will be designated for and accessible to Buda’s animal population. The design plan will be finalized during the 2026-27 fiscal year, with construction aiming to be completed in 2027.
City staff considered alternatives prior to the agreement, including a shelter owned independently by Buda, partnership with a private entity or partnership with a different government agency. While acknowledging that lack of ownership could impose long-term costs, council determined the partnership with Kyle would be the most cost-effective solution.
During the meeting, Kidd brought forth a public testimony in favor of the partnership. He clarified that, in 2024, San Marcos requested all partners to the shelter to adopt animal ordinances that were similar to its, which Buda did.
“About that same time, we were informed that they were really not wanting to be a regional shelter anymore. They were more interested in just taking care of San Marcos and requested that all the partners find alternatives,” stated Kidd.
Because of this, discussions between Buda, Kyle and Hays County to source other sheltering options began in early 2025. All partners to the interlocal agreement separately conducted studies to assess alternatives to San Marcos.
For the last three fiscal years, the count of Buda animal intakes into the San Marcos shelter ranged from 116 to 140 per year. These animals will be kept in San Marcos until the new shelter is completed.
To ensure animal welfare and oversee shelter policy, the partnership includes an Animal Care Advisory Board, which Buda will have a representative on. Council will appoint this representative at a later date.
An initial study completed by the city of Kyle estimated that the facility would be 25,000 square feet and cost $24 million. The final size and cost are not set in stone, as the study did not include Buda or Hays County in its numbers.
The draft agreement divides the shelter’s costs proportionately, or pro rata, based on involvement. Buda will take responsibility for 2.8% of the shelter’s capital cost and 2.4% of its maintenance and operation cost, according to the draft ILA. Kyle’s contribution is set at 32.7% for construction and 33.1% for operation. Hays County will pay the remainder.
The item was unanimously approved to finalize negotiations on the interlocal agreement at the discretion of the city manager and city attorney. Council additionally authorized the pro rata shares to be distributed for the project’s design and construction in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Once completed, the interlocal shelter will serve Kyle, Buda and some unincorporated parts of eastern Hays County that the San Marcos shelter served previously.
Buda City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3.
