Williamson County commissioners study corridor expansion options from Georgetown to Burnet county line

From Community Impact, August 15, 2008...

Williamson County commissioners Valerie Covey, precinct three, and Cynthia Long, precinct two, are studying ways to expand Hwy. 29 from D.B. Wood Drive to the Burnet/Williamson county line.

Many residents of neighborhoods adjacent to the road, most wearing red shirts in opposition to an expansion, attended an open house in Liberty Hill Aug. 4. Questions were shouted at the commissioners, including "Will this be a toll road?" The answer was "We don't know."

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Williamson County spending may rise

From Hill Country News, August 19, 2008...

The Williamson County Commissioners approved a decrease in property tax rate as a part of next year's draft budget, in spite of increasing total spending by $14.5 million.

The individual property tax rate fell about 2 cents, from 48.91 cents to 46.83 cents per $100 of total property value - a level that would theoretically maintain the current size of annual revenue.

The proposed budget will likely have some changes as commissioners field last-minute requests from county departments and decide to what extent they are willing to dip into leftover funds from budget shortfalls accrued over the years. Commissioners will vote on the final budget next Tuesday.

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Williamson County Commissioners Start Planning New Budget

From statesman.com February 28, 2008...

As Williamson County commissioners begin to discuss the county's upcoming budget, they'll first need to decide who oversees it.

For now, it's County Judge Dan A. Gattis, but there's plenty of confusion (even among the county's attorneys) about whether he should keep the job.

To clear up the issue, County Attorney Jana Duty requested an opinion from the state attorney general's office in June.

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Free Speech Groups Take Issue With Williamson County Commissioner's Rules

From the statesman.com January 21, 2008...

Two civil rights groups say the Williamson County Commissioners Court is violating the First Amendment by requiring the public to follow a dress code and abstain from insulting language when attending their meetings.

The rules, approved in October, require audience members at the court's meetings to dress in "attire suitable for professional or business engagements." Speakers also are prohibited from using insulting language. Refusal to comply can result in such actions as removal from a meeting or a contempt of court citation.

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Commissioners Approve Expansion of High-End Round Rock Neighborhood Over Protests

From statesman.com January 16, 2008...

Against the wishes of some residents, Williamson County commissioners gave the go-ahead Tuesday for a developer to add new homes to a high-end subdivision in Round Rock.

The expansion of the Forest Creek subdivision has long been a sore spot between residents of the original neighborhood, which consists of 1,100 houses valued at $200,000 to $600,000, and developer Rusty Parker, who is adding homes in a less-expensive range.

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