Tag Archives: Williamson County

Williamson County Hosts Informational Open Houses on County Bond Election

Wilco

September 24, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – County voters will have an opportunity this fall to decide on a bond election regarding the issuance of $315 million in general obligation bonds. Proposition 1 is for $275 million for roads and Proposition 2 is for $40 million for parks and recreation.

Williamson County will host four Open Houses to provide the public with information on the upcoming road and park bond election, as well as provide voters with general election information. The dates for the Open Houses are:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 2 for Pct. 1 in the J.B. and Hallie Jester Williamson County Annex, 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 3 for Pct. 3 in the Williamson County Central Maintenance Facility Training Room, 3151 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 7 for Pct. 4 in the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St  Taylor, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m
  • Wednesday, Oct. 9 for Pct. 2 in the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street , Cedar Park, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

More information on the bonds can be found at www.wilco.org/bondelection.

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Early voting starts October 21 and runs through November 1.  Early voting and Election Day Vote Center locations are available online at www.wilco.org/elections .  The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 7, 2013.  All voter registration applications must be postmarked by that date.  Requests for ballot by mail must be in the Elections Office by October 25, 2013.  The Elections Office is located at 301 S.E. Inner Loop, Ste. 104, in Georgetown.  Voter registration applications and ballot by mail applications are available in the Elections Office or on-line at www.wilco.org/elections.  For more information, contact the Elections Office at 512.943.1630.

Commissioners Court Sets Tax Rate

Wilco

September 26, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – The Williamson County Commissioners Court adopted the current tax rate of 48.9029 cents per $100 of valuation for 2014.  The total county tax rate is comprised of three tax rates: General Fund, Debt Service and Road & Bridge.  The General Fund or maintenance and operation tax rate was set at 28.1529 cents, and the Debt Service tax rate was set at 16.7500 cents.  The Road and Bridge tax rate was set at 4.00 cents.

Two public hearings were held on the adoption of this rate on September 10 and 17, 2013, both at 10 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse, 710 S. Main Street, Georgetown.  The public hearings were required as the Court proposed a rate higher than the effective tax rate, which is calculated to levy the same amount of property taxes as the prior year.

The county budget can be viewed at www.wilco.org by selecting the Budget Office from the list of county departments or it can be viewed in person at the County Clerk’s Office in the Justice Center, 405 MLK, Georgetown.

Burn Ban Lifted

[Publisher’s Note: We had 2.5 inches of rain on the north side of Coupland so far today!]


WILLIAMSON COUNTY LIFTS BURN BANWilco

September 20, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – – County Judge Dan A. Gattis lifted the burn ban for unincorporated areas of Williamson County today, Friday, September 20, 2013.

Even though the burn ban has been lifted, no outdoor burning of combustible materials will be allowed during Critical Fire Danger Days and Red Flag Warning Days.  To view the current fire danger status, go to the Texas Forest Service website and click on Fire Danger/Drought.

Please be cautious with any outdoor burning activity.  Outdoor burning must be conducted under state regulations found in Texas Administrative Code Section 30 TAC 111.219.

Prior to conducting control burns, please take the following steps:

  1. Please contact your local fire department – Some fire departments may require a Burn Permit.
  2. Please contact Williamson County Communications – Please call and report your control burn to Williamson County Communications at (512) 943-1389.  Williamson County Communications should be able to inform you of any burning restrictions that Williamson County Communications has been made aware of and that may exist.

Salamanders Bring New Federal Powers into Williamson County

[Publisher’s Note: This doesn’t affect Coupland directly but since it is relevant to the larger community of which Coupland is a part, I thought our readers might be interested. I also have a personal interest. I saw this happen in San Marcos and now everything that happens in the San Marcos River requires Federal approval. I want clean water. I want rivers and springs to flow. I want natural areas to be protected within reason. I do not want to put the needs of what I call “micro-species” over the needs of everything and everyone else. I believe that proper stewardship of natural resources can best be effected at a local level. The farther away the decision making process is, the less likely it is to represent our interests. Whether you agree with me or not, you have until September 19 to submit comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.]

WILLIAMSON COUNTY EXPLORES IMPACT OF SALAMANDERS’ STATUS

WilcoAugust 23, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Jollyville Plateau salamander as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.   The Jollyville Plateau salamander lives in springs in southwestern Williamson County and in Travis County.  The USFWS also granted a six month extension on any listing action for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders, also affecting Williamson County.  A 30-day comment period has been opened (closing September 19, 2013) for submission of additional information on the Georgetown and Salado salamanders.

JollyvillePlateauSalamander_MarkSanders_CityOfAustin

“We welcome the “Threatened” listing of the Jollyville salamander as it provides additional flexibility in dealing with conservation efforts for the species and potentially provides a path for future de-listing,” stated Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) Board President and Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey.  “We believe our comments provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service during the previous open comment periods, along with comments from many other interested parties, helped provide a basis for a threatened listing rather than the more restrictive endangered listing of the Jollyville salamander.”

The extension on a decision regarding the Georgetown and Salado salamanders provides additional time for stakeholders to submit to USFWS the latest available science and additional information on the extensive measures already in place that will continue to preserve the salamanders.   Studies and data collection funded by the WCCF indicate that known salamander populations in Williamson County are healthy, flourishing and existing in both heavily-developed and rural areas.   “During this extension period, we look forward to working with the USFWS towards an outcome for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders that provides a reasonable and predictable path forward,” stated WCCF Vice-President and Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long.

 

###

Williamson County Sets Budget and Proposes Tax Rate – Hearings Set for September 10 & 17

WilcoAugust 28, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – The Williamson County Commissioners Court adopted their budget for FY 2013-2014 today of $139,289,236 for the general fund, an increase of seven percent over the original FY12-13 budget.  The reason for the increase was largely due to salary increases and new personnel, followed by technology expenses.  The Court proposed the current tax rate of 48.9029 cents per $100 of valuation.  Two public hearings will be held on the adoption of this rate on September 10 and 17, 2013, both at 10 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse, 710 S. Main Street, Georgetown.  The public hearings are required as the Court proposed a rate higher than the effective tax rate, which is calculated to levy the same amount of property taxes as the prior year.

The total county tax rate is comprised of three tax rates.  The general fund tax rate was proposed at 28.1529 cents.  The road and bridge tax rate was proposed at 4.00 cents, and the debt service tax rate at 16.7500 cents per $100 of valuation.

The Commissioners Court approved a salary increase for 210 civilian positions that were found to be under market based on a salary study for a cost increase of $123,000.  The budget also included a 4% merit raise for civilian employees, a 5% increase for Justices of the Peace and Constables and 4% increase for other county elected officials.  The Commissioners Court approved to fund $1.767 million or 70% of an overall $2.5 million increase to law enforcement salaries with the full $2.5 million to be funded next year.  It was decided that the new salaries would take effect January 17 in order to move all law enforcement to the higher salary scale at the same time.  In future fiscal years, the Peace Officer Tenure System salary plan will increase at the start of the new fiscal year.  Other increases to the budget include funding for 14 new positions.

The Road & Bridge Fund budget was amended to add $1.1 million to asphalt for road resurfacing for a total of $21,739, 340 and also included a 4% merit raise for employees.  The Debt Service budget, which is repaying the debt associated with road, park and other capital improvements, is $69,000,378.  

Williamson County Auditor David Flores estimates that Williamson County will end the fiscal year with $73.8 million in general fund cash reserves.  The Commissioner Court will spend $6.3 million from cash ending on capital improvements.  These projects will be decided at a later Commissioners Court meeting.

The county budget can be viewed at www.wilco.org by selecting the Budget Office from the list of county departments or it can be viewed in person at the County Clerk’s Office in the Justice Center, 405 MLK, Georgetown.

Williamson County Fights Back Against Mortgage Fraud

[Publisher’s Note: If you aren’t familiar with the issues surrounding the extensive mortgage fraud over the past few years, I suggest you check out a book called “Clouded Titles” by Dave Kreiger. If you have bought or sold any property in the past decade or so, what you don’t know could hurt you.]

Wilco

COMMISSIONERS COURT HIRES MALOUF & NOCKELS, LLP

August 19, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – On August 13, 2013, the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Malouf & Nockels, LLP to represent the County in the prosecution of a lawsuit against Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), MERSCORP, Inc., Bank of America, National Association, and those acting in concert with them in claims arising out of the Defendants’ recordation or failure to record instruments related to promissory notes and/or mortgage obligations on real estate located in Williamson County. The Commissioners Court approved Malouf & Nockels, LLP to represent Williamson County as lead counsel together with the Williamson County Attorney’s Office which will be co-counsel on the case. The suit seeks injunctive relief to compel the Defendants to cease the practices of filing documents incorrectly naming MERS as a beneficiary and to compel MERS to records transfers among members with the County Clerk’s Office, together with a monetary recovery for lost recording fees. The contract with Malouf & Nockels, LLP is a contingency contract, meaning that Malouf & Nockels, LLP are only paid fees and costs out of a monetary recovery, if there is a monetary recovery for Williamson County against the Defendants. Malouf & Nockels, LLP currently represents Dallas, Harris and Brazoria Counties in a similar suit pending in federal court in Dallas,Texas.

Pursuant to prior Commissioners Court approval, Williamson County together with Cameron County recently filed a motion to intervene in the currently pending lawsuit by Nueces County against the same Defendants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas – Corpus Christi Division.

###