Williamson County Commissioners approved Sept. 24 to maintain the county property tax rate at 48.9029 cents per $100 of property valuation.

Because the tax rate is higher than the effective tax rate—which would be 48.1839 cents per $100 of valuation and would have generated the same amount of money for county use as generated the year before— two public hearings were held on Sept. 10 and 17 to gain resident comment.

Only two residents spoke at the hearings, both in opposition to the increase.

Although the tax rate is the same as fiscal year 2012–13, increased property values will raise more money for county operations in FY 2013–14.

Of the total property tax rate, 28.1529 cents per $100 property valuation is marked for maintenance and operations costs, 16.75 cents per $100 property valuation goes to debt service and 4 cents per $100 property valuation is marked for road projects.

Commissioners approved the FY 2013–14 budget at $236 million, which includes $6.3 million for capital projects from the county's reserve fund.