Williamson County increases rent allowance for Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties

Williamson County Commissioners Court unanimously approved increasing the budget allowance for rent for Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties at the Aug. 16 Commissioners Court meeting.

The county's budget office initially recommended a $5,000 increase for the Meals on Wheels portion of the nonprofit’s allocation.

“What I would like to do is to reduce that $5,000 that is recommended by our budget office and then put in a $15,000 increase on the rent side of what we provide to Williamson and Burnet counties, and that would be a total dollar amount of $100,000,” said County Judge Bill Gravell, who also serves on the nonprofit's board of directors.

Williamson County will increase the contribution to Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties by 15% in fiscal year 2022-23.

"[Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties] served 189,678 meals in Williamson County, so we are deeply appreciative of what they are doing for our local community," Gravell said.

The organization plans to spend the money saved from rent on food, OWBC Executive Director Marco Cruz said.

“The government programs, at least in our agency, don't cover 100% of the costs, and so the support from the court is vital for us to meet the needs,” Cruz said.

The Texas Feeding Texans grant covers the majority of the cost, but according to Cruz, there is still a shortfall that the organization tries to meet through donations, contributions by cities and fundraisers.

OWBC has a clay shoot fundraiser planned for Aug. 26 to raise about $50,000. Find more information at www.owbc-tx.org.