Travis Mitchell is challenging incumbent Diane Hervol for Kyle City Council, District 1. We asked both candidates the following questions.

What prompted you to seek election/reelection?

In a way I have been working towards this my whole life. I remember thinking about how to help rebuild my hometown (Gatesville, TX) years ago. I wanted to set down roots before stepping up and leading, and Gatesville wasn’t going to be that place. I also wanted to build a business and that required my full attention for the better part of eight years. Now in Kyle, I have finally found my home and built a business. That has freed me to pursue the thing I am truly passionate about – leading in the community. 

What do you bring to the table that your opponent doesn’t have?

I bring something to the table that nobody on council has, including my opponent; namely, the experience of developing commercial real estate in Kyle, owning a small business in Kyle, and working exclusively in Kyle for the residents of Kyle. My opponent works in Austin. No one on council owns a bricks-and-mortar business or works for a Kyle-based company. By contrast, I could not possibly be more vested in this community. Every dollar I have is invested here. If Kyle succeeds, I succeed. If Kyle fails, I fail. This is not a game to me. It is serious business and I am prepared to work diligently to ensure that our economy grows stronger under my time on council. 

What are the three most pressing issues in your district and how will you alleviate them?

The biggest issue – and not many people realize this – is our wastewater treatment plant. It is completely maxed out and a second facility will cost tens of millions that we do not have, not to mention our antiquated lift-station technology. Solving these issues without raising taxes will be complicated. The key will be working with developers. They need to pay for plant improvements and we can make that happen through strategic developer agreements. If they don’t cooperate, they don’t build. If they don’t ensure that the development is beautiful, they don’t build. If they don’t ensure that the environment is protected, they don’t build. But if they do those things – if they help to solve the problems they create, develop thoughtful and beautiful properties, and protect the environment – we say welcome to Kyle!

The second issue is our tax rate, which I will address a few questions down.

The third issue is our roads, which I will address a few questions down. 

Is Kyle managing the increasing growth? What would you do to help the city manage the growth?

The growth in Kyle has put a major stress on our infrastructure because we have not properly managed it through the years. It seems to me that we have a perpetual battle going on behind the dais between pro-growth and no-growth camps. To me, both perspectives are tragically flawed. I think Kyle needs to move past this way of thinking. 

In other words, we need to start thinking about sustainability and the foundation underneath our city. What is Kyle working towards? What’s our vision? If lower taxes is the goal, how do we get there? If beauty and a rock-solid infrastructure is the goal, what decisions must we make to accomplish that?

In a relatively young and growing city, every dollar spent has an opportunity cost. I want to help the council and staff recognize what that cost is, and make sure that every vote serves a clear purpose beyond its face value. We need to be clear, fair, and logical each and every session. That’s how we manage the growth and that’s what I plan to do.

What are your thoughts on Kyle’s current ad valorem tax rate?

Kyle’s 2015-16 tax rate is at a 20 year high and the highest in all of Hays County. 48% of the rate is designated solely to service debt. 

Our taxes have risen dramatically because we have not properly managed our growth. In the last 20 years, Kyle’s population has increased by over 1,100%. During the first half of that growth (mid 1990s – mid 2000s), we drove down our rate every single year, all the way down to .2707 in 2007. That may sound wonderful, but such a low rate coupled with explosive population growth is completely unsustainable. When we needed to be investing most we were slashing and cutting. 

The result is that we are now desperately trying to address our major infrastructure needs and raising taxes to do so. 

I believe we should model an approach more like the City of San Marcos, who has not changed their rate in the past eight years. In other words, our taxes should be set at a reasonable, healthy rate, and our budget should key off the rate, not the other way around. If projects cause us to overspend, we make cuts, we delay, or we restructure. If extra money is available, we invest. It’s that simple. I would advocate for a tax rate of .49 (16.2% reduction from 2015-16) and do everything I could to keep the rate steady throughout my time on council. Kyle’s 20-year property tax yo-yo ride is frustrating to citizens, troublesome to developers, and unhelpful to the city.

What television program are you currently watching or streaming? 

I watch very little television, but when I do it is Spurs basketball before bed or Chicago Fire with my wife.