City Manager Troy Schulte announced that he will retire when his contract expires on Feb. 29, 2020.
“I’ve made this decision with a sense of pride and nostalgia,” Schulte said. “Serving as KCMO’s City Manager for the last decade has been the greatest and most rewarding professional achievement of my life and I am so proud of all we have accomplished, working on behalf of the citizens of Kansas City.”
Ten years is almost double the average tenure of a city manager in a metropolitan city. Prior to becoming city manager, Schulte worked his way up through the budget office, and has worked at the City of Kansas City for 21 years.
Troy Schulte
Schulte guided GO KC, the $800 million, 20-year infrastructure bond program, from concept to voter approval to implementation. The program is now repairing streets, sidewalks, bridges and other public infrastructure that had been neglected for generations.
Under his management, the city created a modern streetcar system that has sparked billions of dollars in economic development, as well as a Smart City program that wins worldwide attention for innovation.
Schulte has balanced billion-dollar budgets during both a recession and an economic upturn. The city created an award-winning, 5-year business plan, while expanding the use of data to guide decision-making.
Additionally, Kansas City has a new convention hotel and new airport terminal on the way.
Schulte is announcing his retirement now so that the City Council and Mayor Quinton Lucas have adequate time to recruit and hire his successor. Schulte pledged to work with his replacement to ensure a seamless transition and continued city operations.
“After February, I don’t have any plans other than to give my wife Laurie a break and run the shuttles to my kids’ practices and activities,” Schulte added. “My family and I love Kansas City and have no plans to leave the area. After some time off, I will figure out the next chapter of my career.”
After notifying the Mayor and City Council, Schulte also sent a thank you letter to all city employees, noting their hard work, day in and day out, for the City of Kansas City.
Prior to becoming city manager, Troy led the city’s budget office. He started his career as city administrator in Marengo, Iowa, and has earned advanced degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.