Hays County Auditor Retires

Long Time County Auditor Retires, Herzog Day Proclaimed

Hays County, TX – With the audience providing two standing ovations along with a few teary eyes, on Tuesday the Hays County Commissioners Court proclaimed September 28, 2016, as “Bill Herzog Day” in Hays County to honor the long-term County Auditor who is retiring September 30 after more than 31 years as auditor.

The Court noted Herzog’s honesty, integrity and friendship and thanked him for his work in guiding the County’s finances, presenting him with a wristwatch that has the County Seal on the dial.

Appointed first by former 22nd District Judge Charles Ramsay in June 1985, Herzog started in the office with a staff of one full-time and one part-time accountant and an administrative assistant that managed a County budget of about $5 million for the 56,000 people living in Hays County.

The Auditor’s Office now has 14 full-time positions and oversees a budget of some $179 million for a County whose population is nearing 200,000.

“The growth of Hays County seems unreal,” Herzog, a CPA, said, and pointed out the increasing complexity of budget and audit processes required by law and sound management. “When I started in the office, our budget was hand-typed and very simple.”

He also told the audience, which included his wife, one of his sons and Auditor’s Office staff, that if he had known then what he knows now, “I’d do it all again. I’d like to thank the Commissioners Court for its unwavering support throughout the years.”

District Court Judge Gary Steel said, “On behalf of the District Judges, I want to wish Bill the very best in his retirement. Hays County has been the fortunate recipient of Bill’s outstanding leadership and as the steady guiding hand of our Auditor’s Office. He will certainly be missed.”

“I’ve appreciated the great relationship I’ve had with the District Court judges (by law County Auditors are appointed by and report to District Court judges in order to provide a check-and-balance with County governments) and the awesome Auditor’s Office staff,” he said.

“I’m leaving the County in great hands. I’m also grateful for the friendships I’ve made with elected officials, department heads and employees throughout the years.”

Over the past several years, the Auditor’s Office has been recognized by the State Comptroller’s Office for its financial transparency, which requires detailed financial information be accessible to anyone searching for it within three clicks from the home page online.

A Financial Transparency icon authorized by the Comptroller’s Office takes anyone seeking financial information about the County directly to almost anything they might want to know.

The office also received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for FY 2014 and FY 2015.

A native of Buda and a graduate in Accounting from what is now Texas State University, Herzog says he applied for the position to be closer to home since his Austin-based job as supervising auditor with the Texas Department of Adult Probation took him all over the state.

Herzog said his retirement will include some traveling and spending time with children and grandchildren.

The District Court Judges have appointed First Assistant Auditor Marisol Villarreal-Alonzo, CPA, as County Auditor beginning October 1. She joined the Auditor’s Office in November 2003 as the Internal Auditor and was promoted to First Assistant County Auditor in January 2006. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration. 

The Hays County Auditors office can be found here: http://www.co.hays.tx.us/auditor.aspx.