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Current and former Killeen council members agree with need for 2nd asst. city manager

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 18:10 GMT by Killeen Daily Herald
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Killeen Council Convenes Over Second Assistant City Manager Need – A Call for More Administrative Muscle

In a move that signals a pragmatic shift in the city’s administrative strategy, Killeen’s current and former city council members gathered on Tuesday, March 7, 2024, and reached a unanimous consensus: the city must hire a second assistant city manager. The decision, announced at the opening of the council’s regular meeting at City Hall, reflects mounting pressures on the city’s top executives to keep pace with a growing portfolio of projects, regulatory demands, and community expectations.

The Growing Workload

The city’s assistant city manager, who also serves as the chief financial officer, has become the linchpin of the Killeen administration. Over the past two years, the city’s budget has surged, the county’s population has crossed the 100‑k mark, and the Department of Housing and Community Development is pushing forward a $45 million infrastructure renewal plan. In addition, the city’s relationship with nearby Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) continues to demand heightened coordination, especially in light of the U.S. Army’s ongoing expansion of the base and the associated surge in local commerce and civic services.

Councilmember Jason Thompson, who chairs the Finance Committee, described the assistant city manager’s workload as “overwhelming.” “We’re juggling everything from budget approvals to the new storm‑water system, and the assistant city manager has to keep the day‑to‑day machinery running while also shepherding those larger projects,” Thompson said. “If we’re going to keep up, we need more hands on deck.”

The council’s discussion also touched on the assistant city manager’s dual role. While the title is “assistant,” the position carries the full weight of a city manager’s duties: drafting the annual budget, overseeing public works, managing procurement, and acting as the city’s chief liaison with state and federal agencies. The role’s broad scope has led to a bottleneck in decision‑making, and the council expressed concern that a single point of failure could jeopardize ongoing initiatives.

A Consensus Across Generations

What struck many observers was the unanimity among both current and former council members, a rare phenomenon in local politics. Former councilmember Maria Perez, who served on the council from 2015 to 2019, praised the current group’s willingness to break the “culture of turf.” “We’ve seen the city’s challenges from the inside, and I’m glad to see the current council acknowledge the need for stronger administrative support,” Perez said. “Bringing in a second assistant city manager will give us the bandwidth to execute our vision without compromising quality.”

Similarly, former City Manager John O’Neill, who stepped down in 2022 after a decade of service, echoed the sentiment. In a prepared statement, O’Neill noted that “the assistant city manager’s responsibilities have ballooned far beyond the original scope, and the city’s future depends on expanding that support structure.” O’Neill also highlighted the role of the Texas Municipal League’s staffing guidelines, which recommend a ratio of one assistant city manager per 25,000 residents—a benchmark Killeen currently falls short of.

Budgetary Considerations

Financial implications were a major topic of debate. The city’s projected 2024 operating budget stands at roughly $120 million, with about 15% earmarked for personnel expenses. A second assistant city manager would cost an estimated $80,000 in salary and benefits, plus associated fringe costs, raising the total administrative budget by around 2%. Councilmember Thompson noted that the city would need to offset the cost, perhaps through modest reallocation of the capital improvement fund or a small, targeted tax adjustment.

The council’s Finance Committee also referenced a study conducted by the Bell County Economic Development Authority, which found that cities that hire a second assistant city manager tend to see a 5–7% uptick in operational efficiency over five years. “The upfront cost is real, but the long‑term savings from smoother operations and faster project delivery could be substantial,” Thompson said.

Moving Forward

The next steps involve the council’s Personnel Committee drafting a formal hiring recommendation, to be presented at the upcoming April 10 council meeting. The committee plans to open the position to the public via the city’s human resources portal, which will list the required qualifications—public administration graduate degree, at least ten years of experience in a municipal or county government role, and strong project‑management credentials.

The city’s HR website also links to the Texas Public Service Commission’s guidance on municipal hiring practices, ensuring compliance with state regulations. A candidate interview panel will include current council members, the city manager, and a senior city clerk.

Councilmember Thompson concluded the meeting with a statement that reflected the council’s shared purpose: “This is a step toward ensuring Killeen remains responsive, efficient, and prepared for the future. We’re not just adding a title; we’re adding capacity to serve our citizens better.”

The decision to hire a second assistant city manager underscores a broader trend in mid‑size Texan cities: acknowledging that rapid growth and evolving demands require not just visionary policy but robust administrative infrastructure. Whether this new position will deliver the promised operational gains remains to be seen, but the council’s unified stance marks a pivotal moment in Killeen’s civic governance.