Williamson County budget committee approves amended budget, sets $1.33 tax rate after tense debate

The Williamson County Budget Committee approved an amended multi-fund budget and set the property tax levy at $1.33 per $100 of assessed value after a lengthy discussion about trade-offs between tax increases, fund-balance use and program cuts.

Chair opened the meeting by describing two paths to close the county’s school and general-fund gap: a no-tax-increase route that would require cuts and shifting pennies between funds, or a modest tax increase that would restore some spending and preserve a 4% employee raise. “I am comfortable with the tax increase,” the Chair said, while also seeking committee consensus.

Budget director Phoebe Farmer told commissioners the most recent revenue changes and resolutions had narrowed the school funding gap to about $6.3 million. Farmer said recent revenue pick-ups and grants added roughly $5.6 million but that, as presented without additional revenue, the budget would require a draw on the general fund balance of about $19,895,216. She described two mechanical options: shifting one or two pennies from the county general fund to the general purpose school fund (each penny is roughly $2.6–2.8 million), or increasing the tax rate by a penny or more to avoid further cuts.

After debate about protecting revenue-producing programs and preserving public-safety services, the committee amended the allocation of the $1.33 levy to county general 28¢, solid waste 3¢, general purpose schools 78¢, general debt service 5.15¢ and rural debt service 0.09¢. According to the transcript, the committee approved the amended budget and the tax-levy resolution by recorded voice vote counts of three in favor and one opposed.

The committee voted through individual fund categories and technical corrections before final passage. Phoebe Farmer noted the amended budget assumes the two-cent shift to schools and cautioned that drawing nearly $19.9 million from fund balance would leave little cushion for next year and could affect capital plans and the county’s fiscal metrics.

What happens next: the committee closed by scheduling a full budget meeting one week from June 11 at 9:00 a.m. for any remaining action. The committee’s final votes on the amended budget and tax levy were recorded on the transcript as 3–1; the transcript did not record individual roll-call votes by name.