Overview
Indexed Growth
Rebases all metrics to 100 in the starting year. This compares relative growth speed between Debt, Revenue, and Expenditures.
Growth rates have diverged significantly
Since the base year, debt has grown 91%, revenue 119%, and expenditures 115%. The 29-point spread between fastest and slowest indicates moderate divergence in growth trajectories.
Understanding these growth trajectories helps residents anticipate potential future tax implications and evaluate the county's financial management effectiveness in balancing revenue, spending, and debt.
Per-Resident Comparison
Per-resident revenue capacity growing faster than debt burden
Over the period, debt per resident grew 15% while revenue per resident grew 37%, creating a 22% gap in per-capita burden trends.
This financial trend suggests Williamson County is becoming more fiscally resilient, potentially enabling future investments in infrastructure, services, and community improvements without straining taxpayers.
County in Expansion phase
The fiscal regime has been classified as Expansion for 2 consecutive years, based on the relationship between revenue and expenditure growth patterns.
This sustained fiscal expansion suggests the county is experiencing economic growth that could potentially lead to improved infrastructure, services, or potential tax investments benefiting local residents.
Fiscal Health
Surplus / Deficit
Annual difference between total revenue and total expenditures. Positive values indicate a surplus, while negative values indicate a deficit.
14-Year Deficit Streak
The county has run a budget deficit for the last 14 consecutive years.
Persistent budget deficits could compromise critical county health services and potentially lead to future tax increases or reduced community healthcare investments.
Budget Deficit
The latest fiscal year ended with a deficit equal to 12% of revenue.
A significant budget deficit could potentially reduce critical health services, strain local healthcare infrastructure, and potentially lead to increased taxes or service cuts for Williamson County residents.
Debt burden is low relative to history
The debt-to-revenue ratio is currently 0.92, which is moderate below the historical average of 1.03.
A lower debt burden means Williamson County can invest more resources in community services and infrastructure without straining taxpayers' financial stability.
Higher Portion of Revenue Going to Debt
Debt service payments consumed 15.7% of total revenue in the latest year, which is moderate higher than the historical average.
Growing debt payments could potentially limit future investments in critical community services like healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety if the trend continues unchecked.
Debt to Revenue Ratio
A rising ratio indicates debt growing faster than revenue, revenue declining while debt remains constant or increases, or both debt increasing and revenue stagnating.
Current Phase: Expansion
Based on recent growth in both revenues and expenditures, the county is currently in a Expansion phase.
The county's expansion phase suggests residents can anticipate potential improvements in public services, infrastructure, and community investments as economic growth creates opportunities for strategic development.
Historical Volatility Events
The period included 3 debt growth outliers (2012, 2013, 2022) and 1 revenue shock (2017), defined as years where growth deviated significantly from the trend.
Understanding these financial volatility events helps county leaders anticipate budget challenges and maintain stable public services without unexpected tax increases or service disruptions.
Debt to Local Taxes Ratio
Answers whether the county can service its debt obligations from locally-controlled revenue sources alone, important during economic downturns when state/federal transfers may decline.
Current Phase: Expansion
Based on recent growth in both revenues and expenditures, the county is currently in a Expansion phase.
The county's expansion phase suggests residents can anticipate potential improvements in public services, infrastructure, and community investments as economic growth creates opportunities for strategic development.
Historical Volatility Events
The period included 3 debt growth outliers (2012, 2013, 2022) and 1 revenue shock (2017), defined as years where growth deviated significantly from the trend.
Understanding these financial volatility events helps county leaders anticipate budget challenges and maintain stable public services without unexpected tax increases or service disruptions.
Debt Service to Expenses
Percentage of expenditures allocated to debt service.
Current Phase: Expansion
Based on recent growth in both revenues and expenditures, the county is currently in a Expansion phase.
The county's expansion phase suggests residents can anticipate potential improvements in public services, infrastructure, and community investments as economic growth creates opportunities for strategic development.
Historical Volatility Events
The period included 3 debt growth outliers (2012, 2013, 2022) and 1 revenue shock (2017), defined as years where growth deviated significantly from the trend.
Understanding these financial volatility events helps county leaders anticipate budget challenges and maintain stable public services without unexpected tax increases or service disruptions.
Debt Service to Revenue
Measures how much of the incoming money is eaten by yesterday's borrowing.
Current Phase: Expansion
Based on recent growth in both revenues and expenditures, the county is currently in a Expansion phase.
The county's expansion phase suggests residents can anticipate potential improvements in public services, infrastructure, and community investments as economic growth creates opportunities for strategic development.
Historical Volatility Events
The period included 3 debt growth outliers (2012, 2013, 2022) and 1 revenue shock (2017), defined as years where growth deviated significantly from the trend.
Understanding these financial volatility events helps county leaders anticipate budget challenges and maintain stable public services without unexpected tax increases or service disruptions.
Debt
Debt Trends
Debt Above Long-Term Trend
Current debt is 18.1% above the historical trend line. This deviation is statistically large based on past variances.
Increasing debt levels could potentially limit future public investments, potentially leading to higher taxes or reduced community services if the trend continues unchecked.
Debt per resident is large above historical average
The current debt per resident of $2967 is 16% above the 11-year average of $2561. This large deviation suggests increasing per-capita debt burden relative to history.
Higher per-capita debt could eventually mean reduced public services, potential tax increases, or less flexibility for future infrastructure investments that benefit county residents.
Debt Trend vs Gap
Actual total debt compared to the long-term trend line.
Debt Above Long-Term Trend
Current debt is 18.1% above the historical trend line. This deviation is statistically large based on past variances.
Increasing debt levels could potentially limit future public investments, potentially leading to higher taxes or reduced community services if the trend continues unchecked.
Debt Volatility
Year-over-year growth rates. Highlights outlier years with significant changes in total debt load.
Debt per Resident
Debt per resident is large above historical average
The current debt per resident of $2967 is 16% above the 11-year average of $2561. This large deviation suggests increasing per-capita debt burden relative to history.
Higher per-capita debt could eventually mean reduced public services, potential tax increases, or less flexibility for future infrastructure investments that benefit county residents.
Debt Above Long-Term Trend
Current debt is 18.1% above the historical trend line. This deviation is statistically large based on past variances.
Increasing debt levels could potentially limit future public investments, potentially leading to higher taxes or reduced community services if the trend continues unchecked.
Revenue
Revenue Trends
Revenue Trend vs Gap
Actual total revenue compared to the long-term trend line.
Revenue Volatility
Revenue Mix
Contribution to Revenue Growth
Breakdown of year-over-year growth. Each segment shows how many percentage points a specific category contributed to the total revenue change.
Revenue is Primary Revenue Source
In the latest fiscal year, Revenue contributed 100% of total county revenues, making it the single largest funding source.
This revenue composition suggests the county relies exclusively on one funding stream, which could potentially create financial vulnerability if that source unexpectedly changes or declines.
Highly Diversified Revenue Base
The revenue concentration index (HHI) is below 1500, indicating a healthy mix of funding sources without over-reliance on any single stream.
A diversified revenue base helps protect county services and maintain stable tax rates, ensuring consistent funding for critical healthcare and community programs even during economic fluctuations.
Revenue per resident is large above historical average
Current revenue per resident of $3212 is 25% above the historical average of $2572, indicating strengthening fiscal support per capita.
This increased revenue suggests Williamson County can potentially invest more in local infrastructure, schools, and community services without raising tax rates for residents.
Revenue per Resident
Revenue per resident is large above historical average
Current revenue per resident of $3212 is 25% above the historical average of $2572, indicating strengthening fiscal support per capita.
This increased revenue suggests Williamson County can potentially invest more in local infrastructure, schools, and community services without raising tax rates for residents.
Revenue is Primary Revenue Source
In the latest fiscal year, Revenue contributed 100% of total county revenues, making it the single largest funding source.
This revenue composition suggests the county relies exclusively on one funding stream, which could potentially create financial vulnerability if that source unexpectedly changes or declines.
Highly Diversified Revenue Base
The revenue concentration index (HHI) is below 1500, indicating a healthy mix of funding sources without over-reliance on any single stream.
A diversified revenue base helps protect county services and maintain stable tax rates, ensuring consistent funding for critical healthcare and community programs even during economic fluctuations.
Expenditures
Expenditure Trends
Expenditure Trend vs Gap
Actual total expenditures compared to the long-term trend line.
Functional Allocation
Contribution to Expenditure Growth
Breakdown of which functions contributed most to the year-over-year change in total spending.
Change by Function (2007 vs 2024)
Visualizes shift in funding priorities. Steep upward lines indicate functions that have grown significantly faster than the budget average.
Education is Largest Expense
In the latest fiscal year, Education accounted for 55% of total spending.
Understanding how education spending dominates the county budget helps residents appreciate the community's commitment to supporting local schools and student development.
Debt service is taking a smaller slice of the budget
Debt service payments now consume 9.0% of total expenditures. This places the current burden below the historical average, signaling increased fiscal flexibility.
Lower debt service means more county resources can be redirected toward critical community investments like infrastructure improvements, public safety, and educational programs.
Capital Projects - Donated's budget priority has declined
Capital Projects - Donated's share of total expenditures decreased by 12.4 points over the period (from 12% to 0%), indicating a relative de-prioritization compared to other functions.
This shift in capital project funding could impact future infrastructure investments and community development, potentially affecting property values and local service quality.
Spending Growth Moderate
Expenditures grew by -2.9% in the latest year, which is moderate lower than the historical average rate.
This modest spending reduction could help stabilize local tax rates and potentially free up resources for community investments like infrastructure, schools, or public services without compromising fiscal health.
Data Sources
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