Local governments in Hays County are navigating significant changes this fall. In Kyle, Councilmember Claudia Zapata announced her resignation, and both Buda and San Marcos adopted their fiscal year 2026‑27 budgets, each with adjustments to property tax rates and program funding.
Kyle Councilmember Resigns
City of Kyle Councilmember Claudia Zapata submitted her resignation on September 25, after serving since November 2025. Zapata cited ongoing “harassment and dehumanization” she experienced in public meetings and on social‑media groups dedicated to Kyle politics. “I am deeply concerned about what hate and coercion are doing to our city,” she said in a release. “Residents have told me they stay silent, avoid speaking before Council or decide not to run for office because they fear becoming the next target.”
The city has not responded to a request for comment. A special election is scheduled for December 23 to fill the vacant seat; Zapata will remain in office until a successor is qualified.
Buda Approves $57.28 Million Budget with Tax Increase
At a September 15 meeting, the Buda City Council adopted its FY 2026‑27 budget, totaling $57.28 million. The budget continues investments in public safety, water supply, infrastructure, streets, parks, and city operations. Compared with the FY 2025‑26 budget of $79.61 million, the new budget reflects a $22.3 million (28 %) reduction.
The council also approved a property tax rate of $0.3895 per $100 of taxable value, a $0.0319 increase over the previous year. For a homeowner with a median taxable value of $383,550, the change translates to an additional $8.03 per month.
San Marcos Addresses $4 Million Shortfall with FY 2026‑27 Budget
San Marcos City Council approved its FY 2026‑27 operating budget of $406.56 million, a 9.5 % increase over the prior year, during a September 15 meeting. The council faced a projected $4 million shortfall at the start of the budgeting process and responded by approving a property tax rate of $0.6515 per $100 of taxable value, matching the previous year’s rate but 2.5 % above the no‑new‑revenue benchmark.
Key budget items include $1.4 million for a newly created Emergency Medical Services department and $2.6 million for increased personnel costs. Additional cost drivers are $775,000 in expiring federal funding, $230,000 for expanded social services, and $24,000 for new Risk Terrain Modeling software.
To offset rising expenditures, the city saved $2 million by eliminating 20 positions through a retirement incentive program, saved $540,000 by holding departmental operating budgets flat, and saved another $2 million through an ongoing managed‑hiring program.
These budget actions demonstrate Hays County municipalities’ commitment to fiscal responsibility while maintaining essential services for residents.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
