1. Texas Government 2306
Unit 11
Local Government

2. The Challenges of Local Government
Multiple numbers and kinds of local government make it difficult for even concerned citizens to find a connection
County governments
City governments (municipalities)
Special districts
School districts
Non-school districts
Townships (not in Texas)

3. Types of Local Governments-2002

4. Counties - 1
A general-purpose government and an administrative arm (sub-unit) of the state:
Less flexible than a municipality in organization and function—all counties must have same structure regardless of population and/or needs
Do not have home rule option;
Cannot pass ordinances unless authorized by the state;

5. Two Counties Functions
Carry out state government functions An administrative subunit of state government Brings state government closer to the people
2. Provide services, especially for those living outside the city limits

6. Counties – Functions -1 Carry out state government functions:
Running county, state, and national elections, but not local ones;
Houses state district courts;
Securing rights-of-way for highways;
Law enforcement
Registering births, deaths, and marriages
Recording land titles and deeds;
Registering motor vehicles;
Collecting some state taxes & fees;
Other powers authorized by state law

7. Counties – Functions - 2
Provide services, especially for those living outside city limits:
Law enforcement
Maintaining roads, streets, & bridges

8. Structure of County Government

9. Structure of County Government

10. Structure & Organization of Counties
Primary officials of the county include:
The commissioner’s court;
The county judge;
The sheriff;
Constables;
Tax assessor-collector
The county treasurer;
The county auditor;
The county clerk;
The district clerk;
County attorneys/district attorneys

11. Revenue Sources for Counties
Property tax
Service charges
Fines
Intergovernmental transfers ($ from federal government)

12. County Government Expenditures
Law enforcement & county jail
Judicial—county & justice of the peace courts
Roads & bridge maintenance and construction
In rural counties (or without large cities):
Library
Airport
Parks & recreation

13. Ector County Budget-2006

14. Ector County – Revenue Sources-2006

15. Counties: Issues and Problems
Constitutional Rigidity—same structure for all counties
Lack of much ordinance-making power
Long Ballot
A Spoils System
Public Disinterest
No single executive/person in charge

16. Texas Counties by Population

17. Types of Municipalities
General-law cities – an incorporated community with a population of 5,000 or less and limited in the subject matter upon which it may legislate
Home-rule cities – a city with 5,000 or more people which can adopt its own charter and structure:
If population drops below 5,000 it may retain the designation;
Voters may impose their will directly through an initiative, referendum, or recall
Write their own city charter & structure of city government
Greater taxation power
Greater annexation power (can annex land without property owner’s consent)
Greater freedom to govern city (without state government interference)

18. City Governments in Texas 1952-2002

19. Types of City Government
Strong Mayor-Council type
Weak Mayor-Council type
Commission type
Council-Manager type

20. Strong Mayor Council Form

21. Forms of Local Government- I
Strong Mayor-Council form
has a mayor elected at-large and is both chief executive and legislative leader
Makes appointments of major department heads
Prepares a budget
May have veto power over city council decisions
City planning is primarily the responsibility of mayor
Advantage: City has strong leadership
Cities 250,000+ use this type of city government

22. Weak Mayor Council Form

23. Forms of Local Government- 2
Weak-Mayor-Council form
Mayor lacks veto power & can only vote to break a tie vote on council
Council often primarily responsible for city budget & planning
Council either has primarily responsibility of appointments or shares it with the mayor
Advantage: cheaper
Disadvantage: Lacks unified lines of authority since the mayor and council share administrative authority
Used primarily by cities under 5,000 in population

24. Commission Form of City Government

25. Forms of Local Government-3
Commission form:
Voters elect one set of officials who serve on the city commission (city council)
Act as both executives and legislators:
Each is a department head & runs a city department
Mayor title rotates—each year a different commissioner is “mayor”
Advantage: accountability—voters know who is responsible for every city service or program
Disadvantage: commissioners often become more concerned about dept. than city problems (A disappearing form of city government)

26. Council Manager Form

27. Forms of Local Government-4
Council-Manager form
has an elected city council & city mayor
Mayor is weak, ceremonial figure, presides over council meetings and can cast tie-breaking vote
City manager is hired by the council-no fixed term
The city manager is responsible for the day to day operations—city planning, prepares & submits city budget, appoints department heads
The council makes policy decisions
Used by medium-size cities
Advantage: city run by trained professional, doesn’t worry about re-election
Disadvantage: “undemocratic”—manager not elected

28. Municipal Election Systems
At-large elections - citywide elections of two forms:
a pure at-large system where voters elect all the members of the city council with the winners being those with the most votes;
An at-large place system, candidates run for a particular seat on the council
Key point: city council candidates run city-wide
Single-member districts - a system with members elected from individual districts by voters who live in each district

29. City Elections: 3 Progressive Reforms
1. Off-Year Elections
In November of odd-numbered years
In May of even-numbered years
2. Non-Partisan Elections
3. At-large Elections
Reasons why medium & large cities have abandoned this
Key: who does at-large elections hurt?
Change has been voluntary and/or court-ordered

30. Cities: Sources of Revenue
Sales taxes – a 1% statewide sales tax; experiences considerable ups and downs
Property taxes where the revenue is based on a percent of assessed value of real property.
User fees, or charging citizens for services received
Public debt, usually in the form of bonds issues that must be approved by voters
Rollback election which limits an increase in the property tax rate to no more than 8%

31. Cities: Spending Public Safety
Law enforcement
Fire protection
Public Works (road, street, & bridge maintenance & construction)
Water & Sewage
Parks & Recreation

32. City of Odessa: Revenue Sources

33. Property Taxes Paid– Ector County-2006

34. Property Taxes Paid– Ector County-By Home Value-2006

35. Odessa City Budget –

36. Odessa: Changing Demographics

37. OC--Changing Demographics
Hispanics: 48.5%
Anglos: 45.8%
Blacks: %
Asians: %
American Indian %
Women: 63.3%
Men: %

38. ECISD --Changing Demographics
· HISPANIC 58%
· ANGLO 35.3%
· BLACK 5.3%
· ASIAN 1.4%

39. ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-1
County Texas
CRIME
Violent Crimes /per 1, /per 1,000
Intoxicated Drivers Rate /per 1, /per 1,000
Drug-related Arrests /per 1, /per 1,000
Family Violence /per 1, /per 1,000
EDUCATION
Functionally Illiterate Adults % %
School Dropout Rate % %
$ Spent/Student $6, $7,708
College Degree % %
% Graduating H.S.-4 yrs % %
TAKS Passing % %

40. ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-2
County TEXAS
 HEALTH
Lung Cancer Deaths /per 100, /per 100,000
Deaths: Heart /per 100, /per 100,000
Chronic Lower
Respiratory Deaths /per 100, /per 100,000
% W/O Health Insurance % %
Infant Mortality % %
Rate of Teen Mothers % %
ECONOMIC
Per Capita Income $22, $29,039
Poverty Rate % %
Unemployment Rate % %
POLITICAL
% Registered Voters Voting % %

41. Texas Cities by Population City Ranking Population Change

42. Special Districts The Hidden Governments
Special districts are units of local government that provide a single or closely related services that are not provided by general-purpose county or municipal governments:
the most numerous of all local governments in Texas.
2/3rds in Texas provide a single service
Provide an alternative revenue source
Created by voters in the area to be the special district & granted limited taxation powers

43. Special Districts in Texas 1952-2002

44. Special Districts Issues and Trends
Multiple Governments –
while special districts may be dissolved the trend has been toward an increase in them
Reasons for growth of special districts
Counties & cities overwhelmed already
Some problems overlap into several cities/counties
Reasons for concern over the rise of special districts:
the actions of officials and employees are less visible than if the services were provided by a county or city;
special district elections held at times or places other than general elections have very low voter turnout

45. Who Collects Your Property Taxes--Odessa Residents--2006

46. 2006-Who Collects Your Property Taxes-Residents outside Odessa

47. Councils of Governments (COGs)
Councils of government (COGs) - an attempt by the state to encourage coordination of local government activities on a regional basis
COGs provides several significant services including regional planning, technical services, and help in applying for grants.
By bringing local officials together, COGs provide a base for the exchange of ideas and knowledge

48. URBAN CRISIS 1. URBANIZATION - 1860-1945 2. SUBURBANIZATION - 1945 +
2. SUBURBANIZATION
Better quality of life
Low taxes
New schools
Open spaces
Less crime & congestion
FHA
Interstates
Brown decision
 3. “WHITE FLIGHT”
Middle & Upper Classes
Business Outflow
Loss of tax base = less tax revenue
            
4. POOR WHITES & MINORITY INFLOW –
Need & demand for more social services

49. Changing Demographics & the Urban Crisis

50. Problems of Cities 1. LACK OF MONEY 2. LOSS OF INDUSTRY/JOBS 3. SLUMS
4.                  LACK OF ADEQUATE HOUSING 
5.                  INCREASING CRIME
6.                  CONGESTION - TRANSPORTATION 
7.                  POLLUTION - WATER, AIR 
8.                  OLD SCHOOLS- $ MONEY
9.                  RACIAL PROBLEMS 
10.              POVERTY - UNEMPLOYMENT 
11.              MULTIPLICITY (TOO MANY) OF GOVERNMENTS

51. Solutions to Urban Crisis
1.                  TAX INCREASES PROBLEM?
2.                  BORROW MONEY PROBLEM?
3.                  FEDERAL AID PROBLEM?
4.                  STATE AID PROBLEM?
5.                  ANNEX LAND INTO CITY PROBLEM?
6.                  TAX INCENTIVES for businesses
7.                  NEIGHBORHOOD RENOVATION For families  
8.                  SCHOOLS??