FAQs • Williamson County, TX • CivicEngage

How accurate is the adopted budget?: County offices utilize past spending patterns, economic forecasts, and future growth projections to aid them in their budget requests. They also may request new technology or wish to implement new programs. The budget office reviews these requests and makes additions or deletions where deemed necessary based on the same information. Once approved by the Commissioner's Court, the budget then serves as a benchmark for departmental planning for the upcoming year. Historically the County uses 95% to 96% of its allocated budget yearly.

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Budget Office

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1. How accurate is the adopted budget?: County offices utilize past spending patterns, economic forecasts, and future growth projections to aid them in their budget requests. They also may request new technology or wish to implement new programs. The budget office reviews these requests and makes additions or deletions where deemed necessary based on the same information. Once approved by the Commissioner's Court, the budget then serves as a benchmark for departmental planning for the upcoming year. Historically the County uses 95% to 96% of its allocated budget yearly.

2. How can I get a copy of the County Budget?

A copy of the current and/or past budget(s) is available at the County Clerk's Office located at:

405 Martin Luther King Street
Georgetown, TX 78626-4901

You may also access a copy online on our Budget Overview page.

3. How many employees work in Williamson County?: The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget has a budgeted workforce of 1,865 full-time employees.

4. How much is the Fiscal Year 2023 budget?: The total approved budget is $505,381,808 with the General Fund budget at $282,468,650, the Debt Service Fund budget at $164,965,819 and the Road and Bridge Fund budget at $57,947,339.

5. What are the largest areas of spending in the budget?

The current operating budget using general fund monies includes a wide range of departments and services. The top expenditures from the general fund are:

County Jail
Sheriff's Office
Emergency Medical Services
Information Technology

6. What does General Fund Budget mean?: The term general fund budget refers to the expenditures and revenues associated with the delivery of services by county agencies funded with several different revenue sources. Services provided under the general fund include parks maintenance, juvenile detention center operations, tax office operations, justice courts, sheriff’s office, and emergency services to name a few.

7. What is a fiscal year?: A fiscal year is a 12-month operating cycle that comprises a budget and financial reporting period. Williamson County’s budget is based on an annual fiscal year that starts October 1st and runs through September 30th.

8. What is the county's current property tax rate?: Total tax rate adopted is 0.375608 or 0.204216 for the General Fund, 0.037492 for the Road and Bridge Fund and 0.1339 for the Debt Service Fund.

9. What is the difference between the operating budget and the capital budget?

The operating budget provides funding for the day-to-day operation of the county. It includes the operation of county buildings and facilities, salaries for county employees, and many of the services available to citizens.

The capital budget provides funding for the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, parks and other pieces of the infrastructure. These are one-time costs rather than recurring.

10. What is the purpose of the county budget?: The budget is an annual financial plan for Williamson County Government. It specifies the level of county services to be provided in the coming year and the resources, including personnel positions, capital expenditures, and operating expenses needed to provide these services. It reflects the policies and priorities set by Commissioners Court.

11. What is the timetable for adopting the budget?: No later than September 30th each year.

12. Where does the county get its revenue for the operating budget?

The county has several funding sources that pay for the services provided in the operating budget. Revenue primarily comes from these main sources:

Ad Valorem and Other Taxes: 78.83%
Fees of Office: 4.34%
Intergovernmental: 0.69%
Motor Vehicle Registration: 1.03%
Charges for Services: 9.67%
Fines: 0.28%
Investment Earnings and Other: 5.16%

13. Who determines the taxable value of property?: The Williamson County Appraisal District annually assesses the taxable value of all property in Williamson County. The County Commissioners Court has no control over the taxable value of property; it only has control over the annual property tax rate that is levied.