How Kyle is run
Who runs Kyle, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Kyle's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Kyle
A city manager appointed by the council runs the city day to day. The council of seven, the mayor and six district members, sets policy, adopts the budget and sets the tax rate. Since May 9, 2026 the finance director has served as interim city manager.
What they are paid
- Keeps the $270,758 salary when he returns to finance director after the interim term; the car allowance then drops to $500 a month
- Not required to live in Kyle while interim manager, and no cap on vacation hours he can build up
- Same benefits as other full-time non-sworn city employees
Kyle city staff
460 full-time-equivalent positions, including Police 135, Parks 44. FY2026-27. City of Kyle · Aug 1, 2026
The budget lists positions by title and the cost of some positions, but we found no city-published pay list for all employees. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Kyle in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $17.2M (2025-09-30). The city's own target: The city charter requires a general fund balance of at least 25% of the operating budget. City of Kyle · Mar 24, 2026
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Property tax$22.3M · 30%
- Sales tax$20.3M · 28%
- Transfers in from other funds$14M · 19%
- Charges for services$5.3M · 7%
- Franchise fees$4.4M · 6%
- Construction inspection fees$4.1M · 6%
- Other (interest, planning fees, fines, recreation and more)$3.3M · 4%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Police$21.9M · 31%
- Transportation and public works$10.7M · 15%
- Parks and recreation$5.8M · 8%
- Information technology$5.2M · 7%
- Trash collection contract$4.7M · 7%
- Financial services$4M · 6%
- Transfers out$2.1M · 3%
- Other departments (library, city manager, engineering, building and more)$16.9M · 24%
Your property tax bill: who gets it
Of each property-tax dollar a Kyle homeowner pays, about 24 cents goes to the city. For FY2026-27 the council lowered the city rate to $0.5460, with $0.3547 for operations and $0.1913 for debt.
24¢
of each property-tax dollar goes to the city of Kyle
- Hays CISD (schools)1.1546 · 47%
- City of Kyle0.5957 · 24%
- Hays County0.3573 · 15%
- Austin Community College0.1034 · 4%
- Hays County ESD #50.1 · 4%
- Hays County ESD #90.0624 · 3%
- Hays County roads0.0426 · 2%
- Plum Creek groundwater district0.017 · <1%
- Plum Creek conservation district0.0137 · <1%
- Total ($ per $100 of taxable value)2.44667
2025 tax year (FY2025-26) rates for a home in Kyle (Hays County). City of Kyle · Aug 1, 2026
See what a Kyle house pays, line by line →Who provides your services
Not everything in Kyle is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityKyle Police DepartmentCity of Kyle · Aug 1, 2026
- WaterThe cityCity of Kyle (utility fund)City of Kyle · Mar 24, 2026
- WastewaterThe cityCity of Kyle (utility fund)City of Kyle · Mar 24, 2026
- Stormwater drainageThe cityCity of KyleCity of Kyle · Mar 24, 2026
- City streetsThe cityCity of Kyle Transportation & Public WorksCity of Kyle · Mar 24, 2026
- Parks and recreationThe cityCity of Kyle Parks and RecreationCity of Kyle · Aug 1, 2026
- LibraryThe cityKyle Public Library (city)City of Kyle · Aug 1, 2026
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | PflugervilleTX | KyleTX | San MarcosTX | BaytownTX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 68,316 | 69,917 | 77,830 | 86,561 |
| Top administrator's base pay | Not confirmed | $270,758 | $288,699 | Not confirmed |
| Council member pay | No salary | $12,000 | $17,400 | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $1,005 | $1,020 | $1,792 | $1,779 |
| Debt per resident | $16,465 | $4,007 | $7,178 | $3,263 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $236 | $121 | $599 | $759 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 6.6 | 12.7 | 11.6 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Pflugerville pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Kyle publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineMinutes record roll call votes, e.g. the 4-3 vote adopting the FY2026-27 budget on Sept. 15, 2026. City of Kyle · Sep 15, 2026
- No: Employee pay publishedWe found no city-published pay list by position on the financial services page; the budget lists positions without salaries. City of Kyle
Questions to ask your council
- General fund balance fell $8.9 million in FY2025, leaving $17.2 million unassigned on September 30, 2025. What is the plan to keep reserves above the 25% minimum?
- The five-year forecast assumed a $0.5600 tax rate, but the council adopted $0.5460. How does the lower rate change the general fund forecast for FY2026-27 and later years?
- City debt rose about $115.1 million in FY2025, to $280.1 million. How much of the yearly repayment will come from property taxes?
- An interim city manager has served since May 9, 2026 for a term of at least 12 months. When does the council plan to hire a permanent manager?
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