Some commissioners stress more public input on planned justice center
GEORGETOWN – Williamson County officials will continue strengthening ties with Asian businesses as part of a five-year strategic plan, but at home more public input is being suggested before moving ahead with the proposed Justice Center Complex.
Those were some of the topics covered during the July 21 session of the Williamson County Commissioners Court.
Taking center stage during the meeting, Dave Porter, the executive director of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, told commissioners the agency will work to expand marketing to domestic and international companies, including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
North California and Los Angeles are the two main domestic markets the agency intends to target.
The efforts of the partnership and Porter — who has also announced he is retiring in December — echo earlier endeavors by former County Judge Bill Gravell, who led trade missions to South Korea after Samsung announced in November 2021 it was building a $17 billion semiconductor fabrication facility in Taylor.
Porter presented data showing the county’s Gross Domestic Product grew from $36 billion in 2022 to $44.6 billion in 2026. The U.S. Census indicates the county is one of the fastest-growing in the country.
“Williamson County has quickly become an economic engine for Texas and the nation,” Porter said.
In the last year, Porter said 30 major companies located to Williamson County and the WCEDP was critical in attracting eight of them. Those companies alone brought 2,224 jobs and a $500 million capital investment, he added.
In all, the 30 businesses will invest $2.53 billion, resulting in $10.23 million in net new tax revenue for the county over a 10-year period and $212.5 million across all local taxing districts.
“These huge investments help keep residential tax rates down,” Porter said.
The county invested $500,000 in the WCEDP. Porter told commissioners that every dollar going into the partnership returned $22 back in tax revenue.
The partnership will also establish a county infrastructure task force to address water, transportation and energy supply issues, which Porter deems the county’s most critical bottleneck to economic growth.
“Every day, over 202,000 Williamson County residents leave the county to work, mostly in Travis County, while 101,000 travel into Williamson County each day to work,” he said. “Williamson County is becoming a center of employment and more and more of our workforce is staying here.”
Porter’s five-year plan also includes initiatives targeting students and military personnel who are transitioning out of the service.
Justice Center input Meanwhile, some commissioners said the controversial Justice Center Complex should not progress without more public input.
They encouraged County Manager Rebecca Clemons to move forward with a public-engagement process.
The multiuse center, which would include a new jail, is planned for southeast Georgetown to replace overcrowded, deteriorating facilities downtown. The county has signed for a 253acre tract for $75.82 million and authorized $150 million in bonds to cover the land and early project costs, with a tentative opening date for 2030.
Complaints have been raised about the release of inmates and the proposed site’s proximity to schools and neighborhoods.
The county shouldn’t take another step until leaders hear from constituents, some commissioners said.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles — who represents the Taylor and Hutto areas — stressed Wilco officials need to solicit public input since only the land is purchased, and no decisions have been made about the site layout or design.
“I think this is a great place for us to stop and listen to our neighborhood, to our city and to our (Georgetown Independent School District) and do it well,” Boles said. “We’re going to get some good information... to see what they’re thinking.”
Clemons told commissioners feedback from residents has been included in each phase of the plan, but more discussions are planned after the initial design and site layout drafts have been completed.
She suggested giving the public actual plans to comment on would be more meaningful to the community and answer more questions, including where the building could be situated and its height.
County Judge Steven Snell said that public comment alone is not enough, but remains a vital component so long as commissioners also engage with stakeholders.
“It leads to a deterioration in the trust of government, which is very fragile anyway. They want to know that their concerns are taken seriously and we truly listen,” Snell said.
The next commissioners court session is 9:30 a.m. July 27 in the new Williamson County Administration building, 1848 Texas Trail.
Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners-Court.
