CITY & COUNTY
News from Georgetown & Williamson County
QUOTE OF NOTE
Williamson County files suit against city of Austin over plans to convert hotel to housing for formerly homeless
Georgetown City Council Meets July 12 and 26 and Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at 510 W. Ninth St., Georgetown • 512-930-3652 www.georgetown.org Williamson County Commissioners Court Meets July 12, 19 and 26 and Aug. 2 and 9 at 9:30 a.m. at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown • 512-943-1100 www.wilco.org MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS WILLIAMSON COUNTY The lawn surrounding the Williamson County Courthouse at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown, was closed from mid-June to early July for a sod rehabilitation and grass recovery project. Following the lming of the HBO series “Love & Death” in and around county facilities in late February and early March, HBO paid $4,000 toward the resodding costs. The county’s costs associated with the project total $6,400. WILLIAMSON COUNTY Commissioners approved reissuing a countywide burn ban June 21 to protect against severe drought conditions, above average heat and high winds that create wild re conditions. The ban extends for up to 90 days and can be terminated by County Judge Bill Gravell at any time. GEORGETOWN Due to limited water capacity, residents are restricted to watering one day a week until further notice. The day on which a resident can water lawns is dependent on the last digit in their street address. Addresses that end in 1 can water on Tuesdays; those ending in 2 or 6 on Wednesday; ending in 0 on Thursday; ending in 5 or 9 on Friday; ending in 4 or 8 on Saturday; and ending in 3 or 7 on Sunday. There is no watering on Monday. “IT IS JUST BEYOND COMPREHENSION TO ME THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WOULD BUY A HOMELESS HOTEL, SAY THEY ARE RETROFITTING IT, BUT YET DO NOTHING WITH IT, AND THEN ALLOW HOMELESS PEOPLE TO BREAK INTO IT AND USE IT.” WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUDGE BILL GRAVELL ON MAY 10 PRIOR TO THE COUNTY ANNOUNCING A LAWSUIT AGAINST AUSTIN OVER THE HOTEL
BY BRIAN RASH
TUMULTUOUS TIMELINE
City Council ups homestead tax exemption for 2022 If successful, the suit would stop the nonpro t from creating home- less housing at the former Candle- wood Suites location in Williamson County at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd., WILLIAMSON COUNTY In the latest volley in an ongoing dispute, Williamson County has led a lawsuit seeking to prevent the city of Austin from using a former hotel as housing for people exiting homelessness. A June 17 news release from Wil- liamson County states the suit seeks a temporary restraining order and a temporary and permanent injunc- tion against a nonpro t created by the city—AHFC Pecan Park PSH. Williamson County authorized funding for a special prosecutor to assist the county attorney’s o ce with the lawsuit, according to the release.
Williamson County and the city of Austin have been in an ongoing dispute over the use of a former Candlewood Suites hotel as housing for people exiting homelessness. AUG. 10, 2021 Williamson County threatens legal action if Austin moves forward. AUG. 11, 2021 City of Austin purchases the former Candlewood Suites. AUG. 17, 2021 MAY 19, 2022 Austin City Council votes to negotiate a contract with Family Eldercare for conversion work at the hotel. JUNE 17, 2022
Williamson County announces a lawsuit to halt Austin from using the hotel for homeless housing.
Williamson County authorizes a lawsuit but does not le one. EARLY MAY 2022 A break-in at the property resparks debate over the city’s plans.
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SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Bldg. 2, Austin, in violation of restrictions for the intended use of that property. Austin purchased the former hotel on Aug. 11, 2021, against warnings
from Williamson County o cials who threatened legal action. At that time, council estimated renovating the building would cost $1.66 million.
WilCo district clerk warns of jury scam
PROVIDING RELIEF
Georgetown increased its general homestead exemption for the 2022 tax year.
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
WILLIAMSON COUNTY Some residents have received scam calls, the county’s district clerk warns. In a release from the Williamson County district clerk, residents are warned to be wary of phone calls from people claiming to be a county o cial or member of law enforcement stating that they have failed to appear for jury duty and threatening arrest for failing to appear if they do not pay a certain amount of money as a ne. According to the release, those being scammed are instructed to see District Clerk Lisa Davids at the county justice center to have the warrants lifted. Connie Odom, Williamson County Public A airs manager, said the district court has not historically had to follow up with those who are unavailable for jury duty, as it has always had enough potential jurors submit themselves. In the event jury appearances were to decline, the district clerk would follow the court’s decision on how to handle no-shows for the jury call.
BY HUNTER TERRELL
GEORGETOWN After an unprecedented jump in property values, Georgetown City Council approved increasing its home- stead tax exemption by 2%—from 3% to 5%—at a June 28 meeting. The council had to adopt the ordinance before July 1 for the increase to take place in the next scal year, according to the city. According to Georgetown Senior Finance Analyst Erika Young, the city’s housing market is valued at $12.5 billion, a 131.48% increase from 2017’s value of $5.4 billion. Young said more than 90% of homesteaded properties hit the state’s 10% maximum increase or “cap” on assessed value this year. Additionally, she said the number of exempted properties also increased, resulting in the city seeing a higher exempted value. Last year, the city had $180.5 million in exempted value. If the
Tax year
Exemption percentage
Exempted value
$180.5 million
2021
3%
$346 million
2022
5%
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
city maintained a 3% homestead exemption, this would increase to $208 million. However, with the 5% exemption, it increased to $346 million, Young said. In June 2021, Georgetown voted to increase the homestead exemption from $5,000 or 1% of the home’s value to $5,000 or 3%. To qualify for the exemption, the property must be a homeown- er’s primary residence as of Jan. 1 of the tax year.
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GEORGETOWN EDITION • JULY 2022
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