Understanding Texas Local Government: Key Structures and Functions

1. Texas Government • Magda Martinez (magmtz@hotmail.com) • Text: (956-286-9693) • My website: www.dreamhistory.org • Emphasis on (local govt., county govt., state legislature, state court system, & state executive)

2. TEXAS: Local Government The City of Laredo

5. Municipalities: 2 type of cities • Municipalities/Cities are general purpose local governments. Texas municipalities are classified as either general-law or home-rule cities. • General Law Cities: • Incorporated with a population of 5,000 or less. • About 75% of Texas cities are classified as general law cities. A charter is prescribed by the state legislature. • Home-rule cities : Laredo is a home-rule city • Incorporated cities with a population of 5,000 or more. • Home-rule cities may adopt their own charter • The charter may be changed/revised through city-wide elections. (Pre and Post 1978) • City Law (ordinance) • Recall, Initiative, Referendum

6. Home Rule Cities • May exercise three powers • Recall: process for removing elected officials through popular vote. • Initiative: Drafted by citizens through collection of signatures and then goes to a popular vote election. • Referendum: The city refers the issue to the voters and the voters ultimately decide. (Example: LEC/laredo entertainment center)

9. Forms of Government • There are three common forms of municipal governments: • Council-Manager (80% of cities in Texas) (Laredo, San Antonio & Dallas) Mayor is “powerless”/shares power equally with city council. The City Manager is appointed/hired by the city council and may be fired by the city council. Usually hold a graduate degree in public admin. • Strong Mayor-Council (Laredo prior to 1978) (Mayor has veto powers, appointment powers and removal powers) Most large cities have this form. • Commission

10. Council-Manager Form of Gov’t • Features an elected city council and a city manager who is hired by the council. • The council makes policy decisions. • The city manager is responsible for the day to day operations of city government. • City manager should stay away from politics. • City manager salary?

12. Voters District I Mike Garza City Council Mayor Raul Salinas District II Hector Garcia District VIII Cindy Liendo City Manager Carlos Villarreal District III Michael Landeck District VII Jose Valdez Single- Member Districts District IV Juan Narvaez District VI Gene Belmares District V Johnny Rendon

13. Municipal Politics/Elections • All city and special district elections are nonpartisan. (no democrats or republicans/candidates do not have party labels) • City council members have term limits (two terms of four years) & Mayor has term limits/two terms/4 yrs. • Unfortunately, these elections turn into popularity contests and are not issue-based. • Mayors run “at large” (entire city votes) • Let us look at how the city is divided (city council are single member districts) Council_Districts_2007.pdf

14. Municipal Election Systems • At-large elections are citywide elections. In a pure at-large system, voters elect all the members of the city council. With the at-large place system, candidates run for a particular seat on the council. • Single-member districts is an election system in which members of city council are elected from individual districts by voters who live in each district. • U.I.S.D. and L.I.S.D. both have single member district elections.

15. Revenue Sources and Limitations • Property taxes where the revenue is based on a percent of assessed value of real property. • User fees, or charging citizens for services received (liquor licenses, cable fees, water and sewage fees, ¼ sales tax in Laredo (8.25 sales tax)…this went up for a vote (referendum) and the voters agreed to the increase which was suppose to cover costs for the LEC…other fees (hotel/motel fees, building permit fees, garbage collection, etc… • Local governments utilize public debt infrastructure projects such as roads, buildings, and public facilities. • Unfortunately, in poor cities where the property values are low, other fees are added to compensate for the lack of funds. Often times it is the poor that end up paying more taxes. Think lotto.

16. Issues and Trends • According to the 2000 Census, some Texas cities grew more rapidly than others in the 1990s. • Development Corporation Act is a state law that allows select Texas cities to raise the sales tax for economic development. • Annexation is a policy that permits a city to add unincorporated areas into the city’s jurisdiction.

17. Counties: Tuesday/Wednesday • The state constitution sets-up the 254 Texas counties. • Functions of Counties • County government is responsible for administering county, state, and national elections. • County government acts for the state in • securing rights-of-way for highways • law enforcement • registering births, deaths, and marriages • housing state district courts • registering motor vehicles • recording land titles and deeds, and • collecting some state taxes and fees.

19. Structure & Organization of Counties • County governments consist of a number of independently elected officials. • The commissioners court is the policymaking body of a county. • Consists of a county judge and four commissioners. • Law enforcement officers are the county sheriff and constable. • The sheriff is the chief county law enforcement officer. • Constables are county law enforcement officials who serve as process officers of justices of the peace courts. • Financial officers of the county include the tax assessor-collector, the treasurer, and the auditor. • The tax assessor-collector responsibilities include collecting various county taxes and fees and registering voters. • The treasurer is responsible for receiving, depositing, and disbursing funds. • The county auditor’s duties include reviewing county financial records and serving as chief budget officer.

21. Voters of Webb County Elect: Commissioner I District Attorney County Treasurer County Clerk Commissioner II Sheriff Tax Assessor Collector County Judge District Clerk Commissioner III Constables (4) Justices of the Peace (6) Commissioner IV County Attorney (1) County Court Judges (2) District Court Judges (4)

22. Structure & Organization of Counties • Clerical officers in the county are the county and district clerks. • The county clerk serves as chief record-keeper and election officer. • The district clerk’s role is to be record-keeper for the district’s courts. • Legal officers, known as county attorneys and/or district attorneys, perform a variety of functions. • County attorneys are responsible for giving legal advise to the commissioners court, • Representing the county in litigation, • Prosecuting felonies and misdemeanors. • District attorneys are officers who prosecute felony cases.

23. Issues and Trends • Constitutional Rigidity • Long Ballot • Reformers recommend a short ballot which is the listing of only a few independently elected offices on and election ballot. • Unit Road System • This system takes the day to day responsibility for roads away from individual county commissioners and concentrates it in the hands of a professional engineer. • A Spoils System • A system that gives elected officials considerable discretion in employment and promotion analysis. • Opponents of these practices propose a merit system that bases employment and promotion on specific qualifications and performance. • Consolidation • The merging or joining of responsibilities by counties and other local governments is a suggestion for reforming county government.

24. Special Districts: The Hidden Governments • Special districts are local governments that provide single or closely related services that are not provided by general-purpose county’s or municipal governments. • Special districts are the most numerous of all local governments in Texas. • Special districts provide a service that other local governments will not or cannot provide. • Special districts may be dissolved when no longer needed. • Dissolution of a special district is frequently accomplished through annexation and assumption of the district’s functions and debts by a municipality.

27. Special Districts: Issues and Trends • Multiple Governments on the Rise • The rise of special district governments is of concern for two reasons. • Special districts are commonly regarded as “hidden” governments in which the actions of officials and employees are less visible than if the services were provided by a county or city. • When special district elections are held at times or places other than those for general elections, voter turnout is quite low.

28. The Costs of Special Districts • Special districts are small, they purchase in limited quantities at higher prices than larger governments. • Special districts may have little or no authority to tax, they are forced to borrow money by issuing revenue bonds.

29. Councils of Governments (COGs) • Councils of government (COGs) represent an attempt by the state to encourage coordination of local government activities on a regional basis. • The COG provides several significant services to its membership, 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 that is of substantial value.