By BRAD STUTZMAN
Cox Newspapers

Combining – as one official put it – practical economics with human decency – the Williamson County Commissioners Court on June 15 voted to allocate almost $300,000 toward social service agency funding for the coming year.
The agencies seeking funding – providing everything from mental health services to meals for senior citizens – all had one-year contracts up for renewal.
Commissioners approved funding for six of the seven agencies in question.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman of Brushy Creek said she is gathering more information regarding specific spending and funding for the seventh, the Capital Area Rural Transportation System.
She said commissioners requested more information – which she will bring back in two weeks – because CARTS receives both general and targeted funding from a variety of sources.
Birkman said she thinks funding the programs is the right and socially responsible thing to do. Also, money spent now on nutrition and preventive care programs can result in future savings for taxpayers.
“It’s for the betterment of the community,” Birkman said. “In the case of Head Start, it provides services that hopefully will keep people out of the indigent programs.”
After the meeting, District Attorney John Bradley acknowledged the $50,000 in financial support county government is providing the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center.
“Thanks to the support of Williamson County, the Children’s Advocacy Center will continue to provide a safe place for children to report abuse, receive medical exams and begin to heal though counseling,” Bradley said. “The contribution of the county is matched by support received from the major cities in Williamson County, grants, and corporate and individual donations.”
In addition to funding CAC, on Tuesday commissioners also provided one-year contract renewals and funding for the following:
• $34,000 for operating costs at Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities Inc. The agency’s main office is in Georgetown. WBCO has 1,091 children enrolled in Head Start programs and provides assistance to 152 families living in low-cost housing at Cedar Ridge Apartments in Leander. About 75 percent of assistance recipients live in Williamson County.
• $37,600 for WBCO’s senior nutrition program. In 2009 WBCO served 157,000 meals through its Meals on Wheels program, benefiting 1,845 senior citizens. About 75 percent of assistance recipients live in Williamson County.
• $63,000 for Bluebonnet Trails Mental Health and Mental Retardation. The Round Rock-based MHMR agency serves clients in eight Central Texas counties, focusing on adults with mental and/or emotional disturbances.
• $37,000 for West Williamson County Mental Retardation, consisting of $15,000 for early-childhood intervention programs and $22,000 to provide mental health services for juvenile and adult criminal offenders.
• $67,000 for Hope Alliance (formerly known as the Williamson County Crisis Center). Hope Alliance is based in Round Rock, serving battered women and children. The $67,000, will be applied to salary costs and utility bills. In 2009 Hope Alliance served about 3,500 county residents. It manages the only shelter for women and children in Williamson County. During an average week five Hope Alliance clients will receive forensic examinations in rape cases.