Williamson County Commission passes $723 million budget, tax rate remains unchanged

Key Points

Anika Exum
Nashville Tennessean
  • Funds specifically for operations of schools make up around 68% of the county's budget for 2023 fiscal year.
  • The county's budget has increased by over 80% in a decade.

The Williamson County Commission passed a $723 million budget Monday. 

The budget will serve various administrative needs across Williamson County’s government and public works for the 2022-23 fiscal year, beginning July, 1.

The unanimously approved numbers total an increase of over $73 million from last year and over 80% from just 10 years ago, representing the growth in financial backing needed for administration of a county that serves more and more new residents each year. 

Over 68% of the county's budget will be allocated to public schools.

Parents and children arrive for the first day of school at Edmondson Elementary School in Brentwood.

The largest of the three fund categories allocated for schools is the general purpose fund, coming in at just over $467 million, a 12.7% increase from last year. This category covers notable changes like includes 178 new positions to address growth, $3.8 million worth of increases in insurance costs for employees, and pay increases for staff approved this past year.

Read this:Fate of Williamson County seal again on hold nearly two years after vote to remove Confederate flag

In other news:Williamson school board to consider classical charter school proposal in July

The county's general operating fund makes up almost 18% of the budget, and general debt service, makes up almost 7%.

The newly approved general fund increased by around 9% from last year.

Property tax rate to remain unchanged

After the commission approved a property tax rate increase in last year's budget cycle, leaders unanimously voted to keep it level at 1.88% on each $100 of taxable property for the coming fiscal year. 

The total rate is further broken down in order to support five funds, including the general fund, solid waste sanitation, the general purpose school fund, general debt service and rural debt service.

Projected revenues from local taxes for the next fiscal year total over $500 million, accounting for over 74% of the county's revenue base, alongside funds received from the state and federal government.

The Williamson County Seal is displayed for elected officials and audiences to see in the auditorium at the county administrative complex on April 7.

A breakdown of the budget

The newly approved total budget for Williamson County comes in at $723,533,814. Here's a breakdown of its components:

General fund – total: $128,306, 187.

  • General administration: $18,248,295.
  • Finance: $6,365,026.
  • Administration of justice: $5,355,537.
  • Public safety: $38,811,454.
  • Public health and welfare: $7,223,604.
  • Social, cultural and recreational services: $21,074,118.
  • Agricultural and natural resources: $760,043.

Solid waste/sanitation fund – total: $8,537,048.

Drug control rund – total: $170,250.

Highway/public works fund – total: $14,080,062.

Schools – total: $492,545,267.

  • General purpose school fund: $467,182,046.
  • Central cafeteria fund: $19,522,056.
  • Extended school program fund: $5,841,165.

General debt service fund – total: $50,335,000.

Rural debt service fund – total: $29,560,000.

Anika Exum is a reporter covering Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network — Tennessee. Reach her at aexum@tennessean.com, on Twitter @aniexum or by phone/text at 615-347-7313.

To stay updated on Williamson County news, sign up for our newsletter.