The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the FY 2016-17 budget of over $302 million at its Tuesday meeting. The court originally proposed a $282 million budget at its Aug. 9 meeting, but made modifications at two separate meetings, including adding pay raises for corrections officers that total $581,138. A general fund of $179.8 million was approved and includes $8.8 million of already approved capital projects as well as $7.7 million designated for capital improvements and other projects to be determined at a later date. The commissioners also finalized a more than $29 million road and bridge fund that sets aside $2 million for a transportation plan and neighborhood rehabilitation. The final debt obligation fund totals more than $93 million, including more than $10 million to pay down debt. At Tuesday's meeting commissioner Valerie Covey proposed setting aside funds from cash ending funds and pass through funds, repaid by the Texas Department of Transportation for road projects. “One of my goals is to pay of the debt as quickly as possible. It saves us money [to pay off the debt early],” Covey said. More than $20 million dollars in modifications have been added since the original proposed budget of more than $282 million. At the Aug. 16 commissioners court meeting a maximum tax rate of $0.4815 per $100 of property valuation, the same as the current tax rate, was proposed. Covey said she has plans to propose a half-cent decrease to that rate, which would bring the property tax rate to $0.4765 per $100 of property valuation. The commissioners will hold one more public hearing on Sept. 6, where citizens can comment on the proposed tax rate. The final tax rate will be adopted on Sept. 13, and the 2016-17 fiscal year budget will go into effect Oct. 1.