The breakdown
The adopted county budget can be broken down into three funds: general, road and bridge, and debt service, running $361.22 million, $73.15 million and $200.75 million, respectively.
This budget is about $75.02 million higher than the 2023-24 adopted budget of $560.11 million, according to county documents.
Prior to the Aug. 27 meeting, commissioners approved over 20 items on the proposed general fund budget, according to county documents, and discussed 12 additional items during the meeting.
The details
The approved budget includes 42 new full-time positions and the conversion of three part-time positions to full-time. The new positions include a county administrator and roles in the tax assessor-collector office and the elections, technology and facilities departments.
Officials said in a news release these positions will help meet the needs of the growing county.
The general fund budget also includes an $18.03 million purchase of a 28-acre property with a 75,000 square-foot building. The purchase will use a tax levy to avoid additional debt, according to the news release.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said in the release the building will address the county’s need for additional office space.
“I’ve just never seen a better piece of property at a better price in the city of Austin in Williamson County,” County Judge Bill Gravell said.
The budget also includes $400,000 to develop a master plan for the county jail and justice center, which are outgrowing their current space, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Under the new budget, all civilian employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living and 3% merit increase, while law enforcement and corrections personnel will receive a 3% cost-of-living increase and a step increase of 2%-2.5%.
The road and bridge fund budget has $22 million set aside for capital improvements and $5 million for the long-range transportation plan, and includes seven new full-time positions.
The $200.75 million debt service fund budget includes $20 million for debt defeasance, according to the news release.
The impact
The approved 2024 county tax rate of $0.399999 per $100 valuation will increase annual property taxes on the average homestead residence by approximately $191.45, according to the news release.
The approved rate is below the $0.400948 voter-approval rate, or the highest rate the county is able to adopt without having to call an election, but higher than the FY 2023-24 total tax rate of $0.377445, according to county documents.
“This will be ... an increase to the average homestead rate than we’ve had previously,” Gravell said. “But I do believe that this court has been fiscally responsible and frugal.”
Commissioners Court will vote on the final adoption of the proposed tax rates on Sept. 10, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
