Hays County welcomes new Budget Officer, Scot Woodland, who brings notable experience in public finance and a strong record of service within the county auditor’s office.
Inspired by his father’s service in the U.S. Air Force from an early age, Woodland has long valued public service and its impact on local communities. After earning two degrees and beginning his career in public accounting, Woodland sought a path that would allow him to follow in his father’s footsteps.
For the past three and a half years, Woodland has served Hays County in the auditor’s office, first as accounting manager and later as the first assistant county auditor. In these roles, he gained extensive knowledge of the county’s financial structure, revenue budgeting and overall budget cycle. Woodland also reviewed the work of the previous budget officer and built strong professional relationships across departments.
“Having already learned so much about Hays County’s finances, I can now focus fully on mastering the budget process and ensuring a smooth transition,” said Woodland. “The County’s most significant financial challenge is navigating a period of slower-than-usual growth paired with lower property value appreciation. Addressing this challenge will require strategic planning and efficiency improvements.”
Woodland’s connection to Hays County began earlier in his career, when he worked with the county as an independent auditor. Woodland was impressed by the county’s strong financial controls and by the people who dedicated themselves to public service. Later, as Woodland sought a position that involved less travel than public accounting, Hays County was at the top of his list.
As budget officer, Woodland’s responsibilities will include protecting public funds through efficient operations, ensuring that expenditures remain within approved appropriations and working closely with County departments to maintain accurate and responsible budgeting practices.
Looking ahead, Woodland is eager to build new relationships across county departments, contribute to long-term planning efforts and promote financial efficiencies that support responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Woodland’s top priorities for the budget office include maintaining strong reserve levels during challenging economic conditions, enhancing transparency and communication through regular updates at commissioners court and upholding the high standards of excellence established by outgoing Budget Officer Vickie Dorsett.
