Commissioners discussed several requested additions to next year's budget that were not placed on the recommended general fund budget presented Aug. 7 by the county's budget office. The recommended general fund budget totaled $185,246,571.
The eight additions include:
- Administration specialist from part time to full time in veteran services: $27,083.55
- Increase to janitorial contract: $500,000
- Nondepartmental increase for county lawsuits: $100,000
- Emergency services dispatch: $730,000
- Programming specialist in wireless communications: $80,431
- System support specialist in IT: $68,297.01
- Deputy District Clerk II part time to full time $37,714.02
- EMS/Round Rock Bay $120,000
"[Budget decisions] is the job; the main job the commissioners court is supposed to do," Precinct 2 Commission Cynthia Long said. "[These decisions are] very important. They have to do with public safety, the health and wellness, and the enjoyment of citizens in our county."
The adopted amendments will be added to the total general fund budget, however the initial $185 million proposed budget has not yet been approved by the court and may see changes as well, said Jennifer Templeton, a county budget analyst.
The budget office has recommended a $330 million total FY 2018-19 budget that includes $36,726,935 for roads and bridges and $107,366,640 for debt service.
The court will approve a final budget and county tax rate on Aug. 28. Commissioners voted to set a proposed maximum tax rate at $0.466529 per $100 valuation at the end of July. The proposed tax rate is the combined total tax rate including maintenance and operations, interest and shrinking, and road and bridge taxes and is not the final approved rate.
The court will hold a second budget session at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, in the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown. There will also be a second public hearing on the tax rate at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21 in the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown.
Correction: The initial story incorrectly stated the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved six additions to the budget. It approved eight.
