WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTS BUDGET AND EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
Williamson County, the third fastest growing county in Texas, will benefit from all its growth next fiscal year. The county’s overall taxable value grew 11.6 percent last year, providing the county ad valorum or property taxes on a total land value of approximately $30.5 billion. On August 19, the Commissioners Court approved a budget of $118,056,152, and on August 26, the court adopted the effective tax rate of $0.4683 per $100 assessed valuation. That rate is two cents lower than the current rate.
County revenues come mostly from ad valorum or property taxes. Additional funding comes from fines and fees. County Auditor David Flores projects the revenue next fiscal year will be $115,200,000 for the general fund. Commissioners Court approved authorizing the auditor to transfer approximately $2,856,152 from cash ending to balance the budget. Flores estimates to have a cash ending balance of $46 million on September 30, 2008. Last year, the cash ending on September 30, 2007, was $40.5 million.
The 2008/09 budget increase is due in part to salary increases for county employees. The budget includes a 3 percent cost of living increase for county employees with a possible 2.5 percent merit increase, up to a 5 percent possible increase for department heads depending on performance reviews and a 4 percent increase for elected officials. Law enforcement will receive a 3.5 percent increase for cost of living plus time in service pay averaging an additional 2.25 percent. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Dallas/Fort Worth area in July, used as a tool to assist in estimating cost of living increases in the area, shows an increase of 6.2 percent.
In addition, the county’s longevity pay has doubled. County employees are eligible for longevity pay after five years with the pay increasing in five year increments. County employees will now receive $24 additional per paycheck longevity pay after five years, $48 per paycheck longevity pay after 10 years, etc. Peace officers have a separate longevity pay system.
“We want to keep our salaries competitive so that we keep employees that offer good customer service and are good performers,” stated County Judge Dan A. Gattis.
The general fund budget also includes 40 new employee positions. Seven of those positions are in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for a new station in Liberty Hill. The Sheriff’s Office also will add seven deputies. The Tax Assessor/Collector received three new positions. Added to the previous recommendations were an assistant Hazardous Materials position, a civil deputy for the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, a Veterans Services counselor and a CAD position for Emergency Communications.
“We are a service organization, and we will grow when there are more people to serve,” stated Judge Gattis. “However, we also want to use new technology as much as possible to enhance our service capabilities.”
The county’s population has grown to an estimated 373,363 people, an increase of 6.4 percent over the prior year.
In addition to setting the general fund budget, the court set the Road & Bridge Fund budget at $20,140,061 and Debt Service at $53,091,665. Tax rates are $0.271291 for the General Fund, $0.028899 for Road and Bridge and $0.168134 for Debt Service.