Williamson County's medical care program for low-income patients found itself before the county commission this week, pleading for more than $4 million in additional funding.

Only halfway through the fiscal year, WilCo Care has seen the most patients ever in its 25-year history, and the funding it received from the county's general tax fund wasn't enough.

"The amount originally budgeted this year by the county to pay for our expenditures has already been expended," WilCo Care coordinator Bride Roberts said. "This year, we expect to double the expenditures from last year. It is really an unexpected spike in growth."

WilCo Care helps those who live in extreme poverty and don't qualify for other medical assistance programs, such as Medicaid.

Williamson County's population grew by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2008, one reason why WilCo Care is seeing a greater need than ever for low-income medical care.

According to county commissioners, the program has seen a 58 percent increase in applications since last year, an increase so large, program coordinators said they're having a tough time processing requests in a timely manner.

Texas counties are required by state law to provide health care services to people living on less than 21 percent below the federal poverty level.

This week, county commissioners elected to give WilCo Care $3.15 million of what it requested. In future weeks, commissioners will also begin talks with doctors in the county about where to make service cuts.

"We have allowed people to be included in our program well beyond what the mandated requirement is," Commissioner Cynthia Long said. "We may have to look at rolling that back."

Under state law, counties must pay up to $30,000 of a patient's necessary medical care each year. Williamson County pays up to $35,000, one part of the program that may be affected by future reductions.