Much Kudos to the Williamson County Commissioners Court, who yesterday approved a restrained budget and kept property tax rates steady. Although under heavy pressure from a vocal minority in the county employees union, Commissioners heard the pleas of Wilco taxpayers already struggling to cope with the Obama economy.
The 2010-2011 fiscal year budget reduced spending by $496,104.26, allowing for a total general fund budget of $124,355,685.15. Although some county employees lobbied to raise the rate to provide for a COLA raise, tax rate will remain at .489999, and may even reduce some homeowner tax bills next year. As a compromise, Commissioners designated $500,000 for bonus pay for non-tenure plan, non law enforcement employees. (Law enforcement personnel are paid on a completely different plan).
Interestingly enough, the county auditor estimates the county will have a cash ending balance of $55 million on September 30, 2010. The Commissioners Court approved authorizing the auditor to transfer about $4.3 million from the cash ending to balance the budget. Seems like a pretty obvious solution?
Two of the these Commissioners will be on the ballot this year for re-election: Cynthia Long for Precinct 2, and Ron Morrison for Precinct 4. (The terms of Lisa Birkman, Precinct 1, and Val Covey, Precinct 3, will not expire until 2012). We need to make sure we keep these fiscally conservative folks on the court, so click the links and give them a little help if you can.
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