Beginning Monday, August 19, 2019, the office of the Justice of the Peace for Precinct One, located at 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd, Ste 100, in Round Rock will be open to the public as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Commissioners Court voted on a proposed TOTAL maximum tax rate for Williamson County and R/FM for tax year 2019 of $0.459029 per $100 valuation, which is the current tax rate. This proposed rate would be the maximum total tax rate that could be adopted at their meeting on August 27. The public is invited to attend upcoming public hearings on the proposed tax rate and will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the proposed tax rate. The public hearings will be held Tuesday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 20, at 10 a.m. at the historic courthouse located at 710 S. Main Street in Georgetown. To view the tax rate notice, click here.

On Tuesday, the Williamson County Commissioners Court’s approved calling an election for two propositions on the November 5, 2019, General Election ballot. The first is for voters to decide on whether or not to authorize the issuance of bonds not to exceed $412 million for roads, and the second is for issuing bonds not to exceed $35 million for parks and recreation. Williamson County estimates that passage of the two bond propositions will not result in an increase in the county’s debt service tax rate of $0.1675 per $100 of valuation. Information is available on the county’s website at www.wilco.org/bondelection.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the implementation of a County Burn Ban for a period not to exceed 90 days and to authorize County Judge Bill Gravell to lift the ban when conditions improve. View Burn Ban Order here.

A person violates this order if he burns any combustible material outside of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks, or orders such burning by others.  The burn ban prohibits the burning of household yard waste, such as leaves, grass, brush and other yard trimmings.  It also prohibits burning to clear land of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation.  This order may be enforced by any duly-commissioned peace officer.  It is a Class C Misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine up to $500.

When Williamson County voters head to the polls this fall, they will be using new voting equipment that provides a paper audit trail. The new system by Election Systems and Software (ES&S) is a two-step process that allows voters to make selections on an electronic marking device, then provides a printed ballot voters will scan into an electronic tabulator. To help voters become acquainted with the new system, the Elections Department is hosting open houses August 7 to 19 where voters can stop by and use the new system to cast votes for a fictional election in the Land of Oz. Voters also can stop by the Elections Department during Voter Drop-In Hours August 20 to 23 to use the equipment. For more in-depth information on the new voting equipment, visit  www.wilco.org/wilcovotes and www.wilco.org/wilcovota.