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Local Government in Texas

Chapter 13. Local Government in Texas. Local Government in Texas. Local Government in Texas . Local officials should be easily accountable to the public. Conditioned upon public and media attention More time cost to follow local news and politics Easier to keep informed of higher offices

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Local Government in Texas

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  1. Chapter 13 Local Government in Texas

  2. Local Government in Texas

  3. Local Government in Texas • Local officials should be easily accountable to the public. • Conditioned upon public and media attention • More time cost to follow local news and politics • Easier to keep informed of higher offices • High volume of national media coverage in virtually all outlets, including local news

  4. County Government in Texas • Texas has more than 4,835 local governments. • That is *a lot* of government for a state so much associated with limited and small government. • 254 county units • 1,209 municipal (cities) units • 1,082 school districts • 2,291 special districts • Ex.: water, utility, community college, hospital

  5. County Government in Texas • More authority in sparsely populated areas • Administer state laws (do little legislation) • Historical origins, began as “municipalities” • 1835, 23 municipalities • 1836, Republic of Texas changes name to “counties” • 1921, there were 254 counties (same as today)

  6. County Government in Texas • County commissioners court • Main governing unit of the county • Sets budget and county tax rate • County may not legislate much, but tax rates certainly impact local residents, business, and industry • Composition • One county judge • Four county commissioners

  7. Countywide and Precinct-Level Elected Officials

  8. County Government in Texas • County judge • Elected countywide • Four-year terms, no limits • In rural counties, may also serve as actual judge • Most cases is administrator for the county • County commissioners • Elected by geographic districts • Each one-quarter of county • Four-year terms, no limits

  9. The County CommissionersCourt

  10. Primary Functions of County Government

  11. County Government in Texas • County government responsibilities • Maintain roads, bridges, and county jails • Cover some health care costs for indigent • Large counties maintain public facilities • Libraries, parks, or public hospitals • Assist with natural disaster logistics and costs • Administer all elections in the county • No matter the offices on the ballot, counties are responsible for election administration

  12. County Government in Texas • County government responsibilities, staff, and resources vary dramatically • Reflect population and land size differences • Compare • Loving County: pop. 94; size 681 sq. mi. • Harris County: pop. 4.2 million; size 1778 sq. mi. • Medium and small counties vulnerable • Natural disasters, costly trials can exhaust budget

  13. Functions of CountyGovernment • Five main functions of county government • Road and bridge construction and maintenance • Law enforcement • Dispute resolution • Record keeping • Social services

  14. Functions of CountyGovernment • Law enforcement • Sheriff: chief county law enforcement officer • Provide deputies for courthouses • Maintain county jails • County and district courts • Attorneys for county and district • DAs typically handle the more serious crimes. • County prosecutors take less serious cases. • In smaller counties, duties are not split in that fashion.

  15. Functions of CountyGovernment • County clerks keep records. • Vital stats for county (births, deaths, marriages) • Issue licenses (driving, marriage) • Maintain court records • Record property transactions • Dispute resolution • Justice of the peace, county and district courts resolve civil disputes

  16. Functions of CountyGovernment • Counties may provide a range of services. • Some of them are a matter of administering federal- and state-funded programs • Nutrition and housing assistance • Health care (including mental health) • Public health monitoring and records • Public parks • Fire and sanitation

  17. City Government in Texas • 1,209 municipalities in Texas • Municipalities are state creations. • The state can create, merge, or disband them. • Towns with >5,000 residents may apply for “home-rule” status. • City charter recognized by the state • Alternatively, towns may follow the basic rules set out by the state for all municipalities.

  18. Municipal Governments inTexas, 2010

  19. The Largest Home-Rule Cities, 2010

  20. Forms of City Government inTexas • Mayor-council form of city government • City has a mayor and city council • Mayor is elected from city at-large • Council either at-large or single-member districts • Council acts as city legislature • Strong v. weak mayor differences • Personnel: can hire and fire department heads • Budget authority • Degree of power shared with city manager

  21. Forms of City Government inTexas • Council-manager government • Most common in Texas • 250 of 291 home-rule cities in the state • City council may select a mayor, or mayor elected • Council hires a city manager to run the city • Manager does not campaign or run for office • Applies for and holds executive public position much like public school superintendents, who are hired by local school boards

  22. A Tale of Three Cities

  23. A Tale of Three Cities

  24. School Districts • School board of trustees • Adopts a budget and sets the tax rate • Hires superintendent • Most districts, superintendent hires district personnel • Smallest districts, board may take on those duties • Selects textbooks • Sets school calendar

  25. Special Districts • Local government that performs a single service within a limited geographical area

  26. Nonschool Districts • Municipal utility districts (MUDs) • Provide services to certain areas outside of cities • Flood control districts • Community college districts • Hospital districts • Water districts

  27. Councils of Government • Councils of governments (COGs) • Regional planning boards that try to coordinate efforts of local governments • Comprised mostly of elected officials • May include other community members • Deal with issues relevant to several local governments • Make sense in large areas where there are many layers of local government and coordination may be useful

  28. Public Opinion Poll Should Texas merge small counties that have very small populations? • Yes, too many small governments is not useful and costly to the state. • No, the state should leave them as they are.

  29. Public Opinion Poll What is the best form of city government? • Council-Manager • Council-Mayor

  30. Public Opinion Poll Which do you think is the most important form of local government in Texas? • Counties • Cities • Public school districts

  31. Public Opinion Poll Should city managers and public school district superintendents be elected? • Yes, they have executive duties and the voters should decide who is best for the job. • No, they should focus their time and attention on city and school responsibilities, not raising money to run for office.

  32. Public Opinion Poll Should very large cities be split into several smaller ones? • Yes, very large cities are too difficult to manage and smaller ones work better. • No, the state should let cities make such choices.

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