texas government chapter 11

How many counties does Texas have

254

What are county governments primarily responsible for

Governing rural areas; construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges, law enforcement, including housing prisoners, dispute resolution, maintaining vital records, and the administration of public health and social services

Sheriff

The chief law enforcement officer within county government who also oversees the county jail and the health and safety of prisoners

Constables

Certified law enforcement officers that have traditionally served court paper and provided bailiffs or justices of the peace, but in larger counties they may take on a larger law enforcement role

District attorneys

Prosecute criminal cases

County attorneys

Execute administrative law functions for the county, including HR issues, contracts, and suits involving the county

County clerk

The main record keeper of the county, issuing marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, keeping property transactions, and elections records, and may also maintain records for courts in the county

District clerk

Maintain records for the courts and manage jury summonses

County tax assessor collector

Maintains the county tax records and also serves to collect and distribute taxes collected to the county and other entities within the county

County auditor

Appointed collectively by the district judges within a county and may receive and disburse county funds

County commissioners court

The main governing body of the county and has the authority to set the county tax rate and budget

County judge

Presides over the county commissioners court and constitutional county court, with responsibility for the administration of county government

How many county commissioners does each court have

4

Duty of the county commissioners

The construction and maintenance of roads and bridges followed by the construction and maintenance of other public facilities in the county

Problem with counties being too small

Can put a strain on the county resources, especially in the event of natural disasters or prosecuting costly criminal trials

General law city

Cities of fewer than 5000 people, chartered by the states general statutes, allowing these cities to organize in a structure with limited powers dictated by state statue

Home rule cities

in 1912 the legislature passed the Home-Rule Charter Amendment to the constitution, enabling cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants to adopt charters that provide some degree of local autonomy. The charter, approved by residents of the city, provides for the form of local government, specifies the number of officials serving on the city council and how they are to be selected, may grant the ability to annex adjacent land through extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), allows the city to borrow money through issuance of bonds, and allows financing of government through local property tax and collection of sales taxes

Mayor council form of government

The oldest form of city government in which the mayor is the chief executive and the city council is the legislative body

In a mayor-council form a government, how is the mayor elected

In an at-large election in which city officials are selected by the voters of the entire geographical area

In a mayor-council form of government, how are the city council elected

At large or from a single member district, where the elaborate selects only one representative from each district

What’s a good thing about strong mayor-councils

They enable the mayor to control executive departments and the agenda of the city council

What’s a con about a weak mayor-council

Limits the mayors powers, fragmenting them between the mayor and other elected city officials

Commissioner form of government

City government in which the city is run by a small group of elected commissioners who act in both legislative nad executive capabilities

Does any Texas city have a pure commissioner form of government

No

Council-manager form of government

City government in which public policies are developed by the city council and executive and administrative functions are assigned to a professional city manager

City manager in a council-manager form of government

A hired individual, often with a graduate degree and paid like an executive officer in the private sector

What city government is Houston represented by

A strong mayor-council

What city government is San Antonio represented by

A council-manager form of government

What city government is Dallas represented by

Council-manager

What city government is Austin represented by

Council-manager

What city government is El Paso represented by

Council-manager

Special purpose districts

Units of local government that perform a single function, such as education flood control, emergency services, sanitation, and more within a limited geographic area

School special districts

Provide public education from prek through 12th grade in a designated area

Municipal utility districts

Some muds offer services such as electricity, water, sewage, and sanitation outside the city limits; a board of directors sets the tax rate and determines the cost of services

Community college districts

Each of the 50 community college districts in Texas is governed by an elected board of trustees who set overall policies for the district, including funding, courses, and daily operations

Hospital and emergency service districts

Hospital districts and emergency service districts serve the poor and uninsured, provide first responders, and manage health care services for the residents who live in the district

Flood control districts

Help solve multi county problems related to flooding, particularly in the most vulnerable areas along the Gulf coast and major rivers in the state

Creation of a special purpose district

Voters who live in an area that would be served by a new special purpose district must vote to create it

Governing a special purpose district

A governing board elected by the voters within the district sets the tax rate and establishes rules and policy

Paying for a special purpose district

Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for special districts and are based on an assessment of the value of ones property. User fees are paid for a public service, such as sewage or water services

What are the problems with special purpose districts

Hidden government and abuses of power

Hidden government

Special purpose districts of which many citizens are unaware

Abuses of power

Developers can create special districts with a minimal number of short term residents as the voter, who approves millions in bonds ghat future residents are obligated to pay

Council of government

Facilitate collaborative coordinated planning for the economic development of an area, help local governments carry out regional projects, contract with local governments to provide certain services, and review applications for state and federal financial assistance

Capital appreciation bond

A long term, high interest paying bond that pays off both principal and interest in one lump sum when bond reaches maturity; it is a method by which local governments borrow money for projects

Local government pensions

Many of the different local pension plans do not have enough funds to meet their obligations to pay retirees due to insufficient contributions or poor investment returns