Williamson County — January 2012

County commissioners

• County Judge: Dan A. Gattis, 710 Main St., Ste. 101, Georgetown, 943-1550
• Precinct 1: Lisa Birkman, 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Ste. 110, Round Rock, 244-8610
• Precinct 2: Cynthia Long, 350 Discovery Blvd., Ste. 201, Cedar Park, 260-4280
• Precinct 3: Valerie Covey, 3010 Williams Drive, Ste. 153, Georgetown, 943-3370
• Precinct 4: Ron Morrison, 350 Exchange Blvd., Ste. 100, Hutto, 846-1190

Terms and compensation

The county judge and four county commissioners serve four-year terms. Each commissioner receives $83,558.62 per year, and the county judge's annual salary is $102,616.81.

Meetings

Williamson County Commissioners Court meets at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday.

Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St., Georgetown, 943-1550, www.wilco.org

Top decisions in 2011

• Transportation — The county spent time developing plans and starting construction on projects in 2011 that included Hwy. 195 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Precinct 3 and O'Connor Drive in Precinct 1. Environmental concerns, particularly those affecting road construction, were also an issue.
• Drought — Because of the September wildfires in Bastrop, Leander and Steiner Ranch, as well as adverse weather conditions, Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis issued a disaster declaration for Williamson County on Sept. 7 that banned all outdoor burning and cooking.
• The budget and tax rate — Williamson County was able to lower the tax rate slightly in 2011. The taxes on the average–priced home in the county did not increase over the 2010 level.
• Emergency radio system — A computer-aided dispatch program was installed as a part of the countywide emergency radio system. The CAD program enhances the efficiency of emergency dispatch by allowing police officers to do more tasks from their vehicles, such as bookkeeping, and the program also has global positioning software that gives the county the ability to track the location of every emergency vehicle.

Top issues for 2012

• Transportation and mobility — Williamson County grew by almost 70 percent in the last 10 years. Keeping up with transportation needs will continue to be something the Commissioners Court will address in 2012. Although a bond issue is not likely in 2012, the court may begin looking at issuing bonds in 2013 or 2014 to fund transportation projects, Gattis said.
• Water — The Commissioners Court does not have any authority over water distribution and development, but water use is a big issue in Williamson County and something the court is concerned about. Gattis said the county would give leadership and support to the entities that do control water use, and it will promote conservation and development of new water resources.
• The economy and the budget — Developing the county budget and setting a tax rate will continue to be a big concern through 2012 and probably through 2013, Gattis said.
• Infrastructure — The Commissioners Court will be looking at infrastructure from the standpoint of county buildings and office buildings. The county has some old buildings, and some people are working in questionable conditions, Gattis said. What to do about office space is something the county will be addressing in the coming year.