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Candidates split on using reserves, debt and asset sales to pay for Williamson County projects
Summary
At the forum, Mary Smith urged a careful mix of revenue, cost savings and use of funds to reduce debt servicing costs; Andy Marshall said much of Williamson County's debt is ‘good debt,’ stressed protecting the AAA bond rating and opposed tax increases.
Mary Smith, the District 5 county commissioner and mayoral candidate, told the April 8 forum she would prioritize paying down principal and scrutinizing debt service to free operational funds for county employees and services.
"I'd like to see us actually start to pay down the principal year over year," Smith said, adding that debt service last year totaled about $109 million and that servicing those obligations reduces flexibility in operating budgets.
Andy Marshall, a candidate and local business owner, disputed the notion that the county has a structural debt problem. Marshall noted roughly $177 million of the county's reported debt is tied to the hospital and described it as "good debt" that the hospital is paying down. He said the county's debt-to-property-value ratio is below 1 percent and that the AAA bond rating gives the county financing flexibility.
Both candidates addressed the county's unassigned reserve, described in the 2024 annual financial report as exceeding $98 million. Smith said maintaining a three- to six-month operating reserve is important for the county's bond rating and basic financial resilience. Marshall said he would review projects for appropriate reserve use but cautioned against reducing the county's rainy-day cushion after recent operating-reserve adjustments.
On impact fees, Smith raised concerns about flexibility: she noted there is about $91 million sitting in an educational impact fee fund with strings that may limit how the county can spend the money and said the county should explore ways to make collected fees more purposeful and adaptable. Marshall said impact fees are an important tool to fund schools and roads while avoiding overburdening developers.
No formal budget action or vote was taken at the forum; candidates discussed policy preferences they would pursue if elected.
