GEORGETOWN — Williamson County leaders will reveal Tuesday how they plan to spend taxpayer money in the fiscal year 2018-19 budget. However, the sheriff isn't too happy about what his office is expected to get.
One of the biggest issues at hand relates to public safety.
Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has made it clear what he thinks is needed, saying he wants at least 60 more employees in his department. He also submitted a recommendation to create 27 new positions for the corrections department and 33 positions on the law enforcement side as well.
However, there is concern that when the budget is laid out Tuesday at the Williamson County Commissioners Court Meeting, the numbers will be far less. In July, the county's budget office only recommended bringing in seven new positions for the corrections department and none for law enforcement.
"We increase the liability not just on the constituents but on Williamson County," Chody said. "When you have deputies on one side of the county -- 1,100 square miles -- racing across from Austin to Jarrell for a call for service that they typically wouldn't have to because of staffing, then that's a problem. I understand that Williamson County is growing and has a lot of needs, but I just can't sit idly by and allow zero positions for an agency that is in desperate need."
Chody said patrol positions will help improve response times, which currently sit at about 24 minutes for priority calls. The national average response time is nine minutes. Chody said the department saw an increase of 11,000 calls for service between 2014 and 2017.
Tuesday, Chody will find out how much money in the budget will go towards more law enforcement. There are still opportunities for that to change until the end of August -- when commissioners will vote and finalize the budget.
The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. and a post-recommendation workshop will be held later in the day at 1:00 p.m. Budget information can be found on the website www.wilco.org/budget.