Commissioners continue budget review Funding for projects outlined, tax rate discussed
EMILY TREADWAY
GEORGETOWN — Williamson County commissioners continued budget hearings for the 2025-26 fiscal year this week, including eyeing a slightly higher tax rate.
Under state law, a budget must be locked into place by October. 1.
After much discussion Tuesday, commissioners voiced support for a tax rate at slightly more than 41 cents per $100 valuation, an increase over the current rate at nearly 38 cents per valuation, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey adding a reminder to the public.
“This is just a starting point. It doesn’t mean we’re going to approve this…it just gives us some f lexibility,” Covey said.
During the session, commissioners listened to budget proposals and viewed presentations by county budget officer Ashlie Holladay and Tax Assessor collector Larry Gaddes.
The latter presented the current 2024 tax rate, the 2025 no-new-revenue tax rate and the 2025 voterapproval rate for consideration.
The no-new-revenue rate, which is less than the 2024 current tax rate at $0.379724, will generate the same amount of revenue this year that was received last year on the same taxed properties.
If commissioners want to set a tax rate higher than the no-new-revenue rate but lower than the voterapproval rate, they must call a public hearing.
If the commissioners choose to set a rate higher than the 2025 voter-approval rate, they are required to put that on a ballot for the next election.
“Your job today is to propose a (tax) rate, vote on that and that rate will determine what actions need to be taken for the benefit of the public moving forward,” Gaddes said.
Earlier budget discussions during the July 29 meeting saw commissioners approve salary increases for state district judges, the district attorney and other county employees.
Pay increases for public-safety personnel came up at Tuesday’s meeting with commissioners being asked to consider proposed increases of 9% for law enforcement and 12% for the corrections staff.
“The increase to these charts will cost the county $4.8 million and then also, as allowed by policy, anybody on these charts will go up one step effective Oct. 1, and that cost is $1 million,” Holladay said.
She also told the court the budget office recommended a 2% merit raise for all non-law enforcement employees totaling just more than $2 million.
Not including county salary increases, the 2026 recommended budget included a number of what Holladay referred to as “large-ticket items.”
• Emergency Medical Services needs 33 cardiac monitors, which have a six-year lifespan.
• Law enforcement and corrections officers require radio and taser replacements.
• The estimated cost for the cardiac monitors, radios and tasers is more than $7 million.
• The recommended 2026 road and bridge fund budget is $1 million less than the 2025 adopted budget, but the department’s requested budget is almost $20 million more.
• The road and bridge department also needs to replace heavy equipment, such as compactors, boom mowers and motor graders.
• More than $19 million is requested for ongoing capital roadwork and bridge projects.
“Some of the highlights of the road and bridge fund include the long-range transportation plan, which is listed at $5 million dollars. That number is the same amount in the current budget,” Holladay said.
The budget slide presentation can be viewed at wilcotx. gov/ 331/ Commissioners- Court along with the court agendas, minutes and videos of weekly court sessions.
Meetings are held 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the Georgetown Courthouse at 710 S. Main St.
