10.5: Conclusion

As part of the federal system, all units of local government can be affected by decisions made by the federal government, the State of Texas, and other units of local government. However, this is the place where most citizens will have their most direct contact with government. Decisions made at the local level are most likely to affect their day-to-day lives.

Cities in Texas are classified as either general-law or home-rule cities. Very small cities receive their charters defining their structure from the state legislature. The larger cities have much more flexibility to determine their structure, organization and electoral systems under home-rule. The two primary forms of organization are the mayor-council and the council- manager. For the most part, elections are non-partisan with no ties to a political party and elected leaders are chosen from at-large or single-member districts. Cities derive most of their revenue from the sales tax and property taxes.

Counties are the administrative arms of the state, responsible for enforcing state laws and conducting elections. Their powers are restricted by the Texas Constitution. Unlike municipalities, the elections are partisan and the primary policymakers are the county judge and the four county commissioners.

Although many citizens are not aware of special districts, they are separate legal entities that include public schools, community colleges, and many non-educational districts that provide services such as mass transportation or economic development. Councils of government were created to increase cooperation and coordination between the different levels of local government.

There are a myriad of problems facing local government. Recent events in Texas have highlighted these problems. The COVID-19 pandemic stretched local resources to the limit as cities and counties and health special districts had to deal with the healthcare crisis and then to administer the vaccine in a very large state with a very large population. Not only was it a healthcare crisis, but also an economic crisis and an educational crisis. Texas is still assessing the long-term effects on businesses and student performance. Most of the burden fell on local government to deal with the pandemic and the consequences. Just as many were excited about the first wave of vaccines, Texas was hit with a week-long deep freeze in February of 2021 and the failure of the power grid to provide enough power to adequately keep many people with power and water supplies. Again, it will primarily be local government with resources from state and federal government that will be working closely with their residents as they get their lives back on track. Once again, this highlights the need for cooperation between all units of government in Texas.

Finally, local government is the first point of contact for many citizens, and it offers a number of opportunities for involvement and understanding the importance of civic engagement and being an active part of your community. Residents should take the opportunity to attend public meetings of their city council, city commission or public school board. They should also look into volunteer opportunities to serve on various committees such as parks and recreation and assist in the long-term planning of those resources. Many neighborhoods have their own organizations and work hard to keep their neighborhoods clean and secure—another opportunity to volunteer. One may even want to run for a local elected office!