2. Chapter 3: Objectives
Understand how local governments fit into our state and federal systems of government and how they impact our daily lives.
Discuss how representative local governments are.
Discuss whether term limits improve the state of democracy in Texas.

3. Chapter 3: Objectives
Describe the purpose of counties in 21st century Texas.
Debate why the number of special districts continues to increase in a state that believes strongly in limited government.
Discuss whether metropolitan areas are up to the challenge of meeting the needs of Texans in an era where demands for services are on the rise while revenues fall.

4. Local Government Influence
Local Government has the greatest effect on citizen’s daily lives.
Types
Municipalities – about 1,200 city and town governments
Counties – 254
Special districts – more than 3,000

5. Local Government and Federalism
Local governments are directed by the State Constitution
Influenced by state and federal funding
Local government’s influence often overlaps with other local governments
Grassroots approach to influence local government policy

6. How Do We Compare
How Do We Compare – In Employees and Spending at State and Local Levels?
How does Texas rank to other states in state employment per 10,000 citizens?
How does Texas expenditure per capita rank compared to other states? What are the positives and the negatives to that ranking?
How does Texas’ debt rank compared to other states?
How do all these numbers influence local government hiring, expenditures, and debt?

7. Municipal Governments
Municipal Government – local government for an incorporated community established by law as a city
Two types
General law city
Home rule city

8. General Law City Texas Legislature prescribes the charter
Population of 201 or more
Approximately 900 in Texas

9. Home Rule City
Charter is adopted, amended, or repealed by majority vote in a citywide election
Population of 5000 or more
Approximately 300 in Texas
City Charter
Establishes powers of municipal officers, sets salaries and terms of offices for council members and mayors, and procedures for ordinances (city laws)

10. Home Rule City
May exercise three powers not held by the state government
Recall – process for removing elected officials through a popular vote
Initiative – citizen-drafted measure proposed by a specified number or percentage of qualified voters and voted on by citizens
Referendum – approves or repeals an existing ordinance by popular vote

11. Forms of Municipal Governments
Four forms of municipal governments
Strong Mayor Council
Weak Mayor Council
Council – manager
Commission
Various combinations of the four are allowed for home rule cities

12. Strong Mayor Council
Used by many large cities, but only Houston in Texas
A council composed of members elected from single-member districts
Mayor elected at large, with power to appoint and remove department heads
Mayor has budgetary power
Mayor has the power to veto council actions

13. Strong Mayor Council

14. Weak Mayor Council Cities trending away from this form of government
Mayor equal with council members
Local government gives the mayor limited administrative powers
Council can override mayor veto

15. Council Manager
The mayor is a presiding member of the council with few formal administrative powers
City council or commission members elected at large or in single-member districts make general policy for the city
City manager appointed by the council responsible for carrying out council decisions and managing the city’s departments

16. Council Manager

17. Commission
Each elected commissioner is responsible for a different department
Commissioners designate a city secretary or another official to coordinate departmental work

18. Municipal Politics
Non-partisan elections – candidates are not identified on the ballot by party
Held by city and special districts
Voter turnout low
Politics more personal
City councils must redistrict

19. Municipal Elections At-large elections Single-member districts
Council members elected on a citywide basis.
Tendency to over-represent majority and under-represent minorities.
Single-member districts
Voters cast a ballot only for a candidate who resides within their district.
Increased diversity on city councils and local governments.
Cumulative Elections
Number of votes equal to the positions available and may cast them for one or more candidates in any combination.
Term Limits

20. Points to Ponder
What are local Houston elections indicative of concerning affirmative action programs and gay rights?
What do you believe has influenced Houston’s diverse policies and elected officials?

21. Should Term Limits Be Instituted for City Council Members and Mayors?
Point/Counterpoint
Should Term Limits Be Instituted for City Council Members and Mayors?
Arguments for
Long tenure tends to encourage corruption and complacency.
Term limits facilitate new approaches to solving public problems.
Turnover ensures election of citizen public officials instead of professional office-seekers.
What is your opinion?
Arguments Against
Turnover does not guarantee better or more honest leaders.
Turnover produces amateurs easily outwitted by experienced lobbyists and bureaucrats.
By the time officeholders learn their jobs, they have to leave.

22. Win–Win: A Tale of Two Internships
Students in Action
Win–Win: A Tale of Two Internships
As part of an Internship Program by Sam Houston State University, Megan Bryant completed two internships with local governments.
She gained a direct connection to her community, organizational skills, career experience, and the reward of helping others.

23. Municipal Services

24. Municipal Services Multiple Municipal Services provided:
Police and fire protection
Streets
Water
Sewer and sanitation
Parks and recreation
Regulation provided:
Zoning
Construction
Food service
Sanitation

25. Municipal Revenue Sources
Resources limited with greater responsibility placed on local governments
Sources
Property Taxes
Tax property based on value of home or business
Amount of taxes per $100 of the property’s value
Sales Tax
Based on sales of selected items
1 % of purchase price

26. Municipal Revenue Sources
Fees
Increasingly used
Depend on state allowances and local government agreements
Bonds
General obligation bonds
Revenue bonds

27. Municipal Revenue Limitations
Property tax exemptions
Property tax caps
Bonds with voter approval

28. How Do We Compare?
How Do We Compare…In Funding Services at State and Local Levels
On what sector do all governments spend the most money?
On what sector do governments spend the least amount?

29. Municipal Economic Development
Less money coming from Federal Government and State
Tax Reinvestment Zones (TRZs)
Tax breaks to attract investment in blighted inner-city and other areas needing development

30. Counties An agent of the state Each county (254)
Provides basic services primarily to those outside of municipalities
Each county (254)
Issues state automobile licenses
Enforces state laws
Registers voters
Conducts elections
Collects certain state taxes
Helps administer justice

31. County Structure Provided by Texas Constitution
Same basic structure for all counties
Partisan election to serve four-year term for all elected county officials

32. County Structure

33. County Structure

34. County Structure County Commissioners Court County Judge
Major policy-making body of the county
Membership includes four elected commissioners for specific precinct
County Judge
Presiding county officer
Completes administrative and judicial functions
Counties must redistrict every decade

35. County Commissioners Court
Functions:
Adopting the county budget and setting tax rates
Providing a courthouse, jails, and other buildings
Maintaining county roads and bridges
Administering county health and welfare programs

36. Elected County Officials
County Attorney
Represents state in civil and criminal matters
County Sheriff
County’s chief law enforcement officer and maintains county jail
County Clerk
Completes clerical duties of county

37. Other Elected County Officials
County Tax Assessor – Collector
Collects county taxes and fees
County Tax Appraisal District
Assesses property values in the county
County Treasurer
Receives and pays out all county funds
County Auditor
Checks the accounts of officials who handle county funds

38. County Finance Sources of Revenue Property taxes Fees
Federal grants-in-aid
Economic development
Tax incentives and abatement
Bonds

39. County Finance Expenditures
Restricted by state and federal requirements
Spending varies from each county
Commissioners Court prepares budget

40. County Issues County Government Reform Border Counties Colonias (2300)
Elections and leadership
Border Counties
High growth
Most impoverished counties in the nation
Colonias (2300)
Depressed housing settlements often without running water or sewage systems

41. Special Districts
Government unit usually with one function and serves a specific group of people in a particular geographic area.
Two Categories
School Districts
More than 1,000 Independent School Districts
Governed by elected board
Finance a major issue – “Robin Hood”
Includes Community College Districts (50)

42. Special Districts

43. Special Districts Non-education Special Districts (2300)
Single districts that provide specific functions in an area
Provide specific services that county may not be able to cover
Allow for additional authority in a specific region
Possibly bring in additional revenue

44. Points to Ponder
What is the difference in annual income between those who obtain a bachelor’s degree and those who do not?

45. Metropolitan Areas 88% of Texans live in Metropolitan Areas
Often have problems and concerns influencing entire Metropolitan Area that cannot be maintained by current governing bodies
Council of Governments created
Voluntary associations of local governments
Perform regional planning activities and provide services

46. Metropolitan Areas

47. Municipal Annexation
Provides process for home-rule cities grappling with suburban sprawl
Provides cities with extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) outside their city boundaries
Allows regulation and annexation of unincorporated areas
Benefit is that it provides order and planning
Major complaints from property owners in annexed area