The proposed budget amount will be not be released until the Aug. 9 meeting, but an effective tax rate of 0.446618 per $100 valuation has been proposed. That would be a decrease from 0.455624 in FY 2015-16, according to County Budget Officer Ashlie Koenig. Koenig said rising home values over the past year have allowed for the proposed decrease in the tax rate.
Koenig said commissioners have already approved $8.8 million to be included in the operating fund to use for capital projects. Capital projects are high-dollar items that have long life spans, such as new EMS stations or remodels, Koenig said. The dollar amount for the capital fund is higher than $8.8 million, but the additional funding will come from previous bonds, Koenig said.
The budget office has also recommended adding 11 full-time and two part-time employees in the FY 2016-17 budget.
The 2016 average homestead taxable value also increased to $253,380, Larry Gaddes, the chief deputy of the county tax assessor and collector’s office said. That $21,072, or 9.07 percent, increase is mostly due to rising property values, Gaddes said.
Commissioners will meet Aug. 16 to propose a maximum property tax rate. The amount set is the maximum rate that can be adopted by the commissioners on Sep. 13, when they are set to adopt the official tax rate for Williamson County. Two public hearings on tax rate adoption are also proposed for Aug. 30 and Sep. 6.
On Aug. 17 and 23, budget modification hearings will be held allowing commissioners to add and delete items from the budget before it is officially adopted on Aug. 30.
How to participate
All public budget and tax rate hearings and discussions will take place at the Williamson County Courthouse building, 710 Main St., Georgetown.
Aug. 9
Presentation of 2016-17 budget recommendations: 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 16
Proposed maximum tax rate discussion and scheduling of public hearings: 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 17
Budget modification voting session: 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 23
Budget modification voting session: 1:00 p.m.
Aug. 30
2016-17 budget adopted: 9:30 a.m.
Sep. 13
2016-17 property tax rate adopted: 9:30 a.m.
