WilCo Commissioners Court adopts budget

On Aug. 26 the Williamson County Commissioners Court adopted a $243 million budget, which includes both salary increases and additional personnel.

The budget included 42 new positions as well as a four percent merit pay increase for justices of the peace, the county clerk, the tax assessor and the district clerk.

Some commissioners were concerned about the increases.

Last year we said we were going to raise salaries; this year we said we were going to add people, Precinct 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman said. In this budget were doing both, and I think were spending too much money.

The budget for the 201415 fiscal year goes into effect Oct. 1 and is $7 million more than the previous budget.

The total budget includes the $146. 78 million general fund, $22.32 million road and bridge fund and $74.56 million debt services fund.

During preliminary budget discussions commissioners said added personnel would be a large contributing factor to the overall budget increase.

During discussions, County Budget Officer Ashlie Koenig said her department received 139 requests for positions for the 201415 fiscal year, compared to the 80 requested positions in 201314. Those included both new positions as well as transitioning part-time positions to full-time.