On September 17, 2020, Governor Abbott issued Executive Orders expanding occupancy levels at 75% for restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and libraries, and re-authorizing elective surgeries for a majority of the state of Texas beginning September 21. Read Executive Order 30 here. In coordination with Governor Abbott's order, County Judge Bill Gravell has signed a new order effective Friday, September 18. This order continues to permit Williamson County residents to have outdoor gatherings in excess of 10 people in the unincorporated areas of Williamson County provided the gatherings otherwise comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s new Executive Order GA-30. A copy of the order can be found here. This order also follows Governor Abbott’s Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face-covering over nose and mouth in public spaces.

With National Voter Registration Day around the corner, on September 22, the Williamson County Elections Department is using this time to remind residents to register for the November elections. Residents interested in voting need to register by Monday, October 5.

Williamson County Office of Emergency Management in partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and in coordination with Hutto Fire Rescue/Emergency Services District 3 will be hosting free COVID-19 testing from Tuesday, September 22, through Thursday, September 24.   

 Testing will be conducted at the Hutto Fire Rescue Station located at 501 Exchange Boulevard in Hutto. It will begin at 10 a.m., and it will close by 2:00 p.m. or until supplies last.    

For the first time, taxpayers in Williamson County will get all the tax information that pertains to their property on one site, williamsonpropertytaxes.org. This includes their property value, proposed rates, entity contact information, notices of public meetings, and tax rate calculation worksheets. This one-stop-shop was created after the passing of Senate Bill 2, which aims to make the process more transparent and easier for taxpayers to follow. Most importantly, the site serves as a hub where property owners can provide feedback to each of their taxing entities directly. Tax Assessor/Collector Larry Gaddes explains how to navigate the information in a video that can be found on the County’s YouTube page at https://youtu.be/oyoLN0-7ugk.   

The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved agreements for Wilco Forward Phase III to provide rent and utility assistance to residents that are in need through partnerships with local non-profits. Terms of agreement were approved between Williamson County and The Caring Place, The Salvation Army, and the Round Rock Serving Center. Phase III is funded with $5 million from a combination of Community Development Block Grant funds and the approximately $93 million the County received in federal CARES Act funds.