By Rafael Marquez

The Kyle City Council Tuesday approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2017 $81.4 million budget by a vote of 6-1. The lone vote against the new budget came from councilwoman Daphne Tenorio. 

The council unanimously passed the new ad valorem tax rate for the new fiscal year at $0.5748 per $100 of assessed value. 

Tenorio, however, noted that despite the one-cent decrease from last year’s ad valorem tax rate, the tax rate for FY2017 represents an effective 5 percent tax increase for homeowners in the City of Kyle because of higher property valuations.

City council makes new appointments 

Eight new appointments were made by the Kyle City Council to the Kyle Area Youth Advisory Council (KAYAC) Tuesday. The new members are Sarah Watson, KAYAC Staff Liaison, Jude McClaren, Skyler Gold, Mia Padron, Dharma Heaney, Raymond “RJ” Navarro, Anna Holsonbake and Samantha Martinez. 

Councilman Travis Mitchell nominated Ryan Browning for the City of Kyle Ethics commission. The council approved the nomination 7-0.

Pre-annexation agreement hits the dais 

The biggest discussion Tuesday was reserved for a proposed Pre-Annexation agreement template related to receiving city-provided utilities. 

The agreement template stipulates that future developments that receive city utilities, such as water and wastewater, agree to be annexed by the city at some point in the future. 

Receiving city-provided utilities is one of the biggest benefits of annexation and once subdivisions receive the utilities there is little motivation for them to amicably join the city. The city hopes to sidestep issues with future developments with this instrument. The council passed this new agreement template 7-0.