Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD, SAM SCHAFFER, GRACIE WARHURST
WilCo approves budget additions
Leander approves police contract Leander City Council voted Aug. 7 to approve an agreement dictating the terms of employment for the city’s police ocers for the next three years. The meet and confer agreement is a contract negotiated between the city and the Leander Law Enforcement Association, a nonpro t that supports Leander’s ocers-provides guidance on pay conditions, sick time and more. The gist The contract will be eective from Oct. 1 until Sept. 30, 2028, according to a copy of the agreement. The contract also ensures there are procedures in place to provide guidance and structure for members of the association to give feedback in the process of choosing a new police chief when the time comes.
Liberty Hill adopts FY 2025 26 budget Liberty Hill City Council voted to adopt the city’s scal year 2025-26 budget on Aug. 27. The budget, accounting for a total of $74.1 million in expenses, added two new police ocer positions as well as an emer- gency management coordinator, according to agenda documents. What you need to know City Council also adopted a property tax rate of $0.469407 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, which will fund the FY 2025-26 budget. The adopted property tax rate equates to the no-new-revenue rate for the city, and it eectively decreases the tax rate. The 2024 rate was $0.483029 per $100 of assessed property value, according to the city.
Travis County faces health care tax hike
Central Health FY 202526 proposed budget
Under the agreement, the base pay for an ocer is $73,876, and the maximum pay for positions in the agreement are as follows: Maximum pay positions Ocer: $104,385 Corporal: $114,823 Sergeant: $126,306 Lieutenant: $138,936
Total revenue $424M
Central Health, Travis County’s taxpayer-funded hospital district, has proposed a 9.3% property tax rate increase for scal year 2025-26. If board members approve, the average homeowner will pay about $608 annually, up $64 from last year. A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, with a vote on Sept. 16. A closer look Dubbed the “year of access,” the budget aims to expand health care for low-income residents by reducing appointment wait times, lowering avoidable hospital visits and broadening insurance coverage. Central Health is working closely with partners CommUnityCare and Sendero Health Plans on a joint budget focused on primary and specialty care, including a record $98 million for CommUnityCare services.
Williamson County commissioners discussed possible additions to the county’s proposed $671.1 million budget during workshops Aug. 12 and Aug. 19. What’s new Commissioners unanimously supported an item from County Judge Steven Snell to hire a preparedness and mitigation specialist in the Oce of Emergency Management. Commissioners voted to add county positions, including an additional Precinct 1 constable and deputy constable and an elections/ballot by mail coordinator. Commissioners also approved a 2% cost- of-living adjustment for civilian employees, amounting to $2.2 million in the general fund budget and $300,000 in the road and bridge fund.
Total expenses $544M
90% Property taxes
SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER
1% Tobacco settlements 6% Interest & other income 3% Lease revenue
Total revenue $424M
What they’re saying City Manager Todd Parton expressed con dence in the agreement after what he called a series of productive negotiation meetings. Carlos Gonzalez, Leander Police Department Corporal and President of the Leander Law Enforcement Association, said he and other ocers were satis ed with the process. “We’re over the moon,” he said, expressing his appreciation for the agreeable nature of negotiations.
77% Health care delivery
9% Administration 7% Other
Total expenses $544M
6% Dell medical aliation agreement 1% Restricted expenses
SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTHTRAVIS COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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