10: Local Government
- Page ID
- 129187
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
- Explain the relationship between the city, county, and state governments.
- Describe the structure and function of municipal government in Texas.
- Describe the structure and function of county government in Texas.
- Describe the structure and function of special districts in Texas.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of local political systems in Texas.
In this chapter, the reader will learn more about the types of local government that affect the citizens of Texas every single day. Local government includes counties, cities and special districts. Counties are created specifically by the state and every square inch of Texas is in one of the state’s 254 counties. Their powers are given by the state. On the other hand, cities are created by the people. Special districts are created when needed, the most visible being school districts. In addition to 254 counties, Texas has just over 1200 cities and 3250 special districts with 1108 of those being school districts. Each covers a specific geographic area and perform certain government functions. Each is funded in different ways and most are controlled by elected officials that are responsible to the voters who put them in office.
The tricky part is understanding how these different types of local government work together (or against each other!) to meet the needs of Texas citizens. For example, the Texas Observer reported how a state agency worked with local government to solve a small problem. A small alligator with an apparent big appetite entered a Whataburger in the late night hours in Aransas Pass, a small town on the Gulf Coast. The employees and city police called in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who sent game wardens to handle the creature. They were able to subdue the gator by taping its mouth shut. Later, the policy wrote on Facebook, “I guess it goes to show, Whataburger really is the choice of late night snacks for just about everyone, human and animal!”1
Sometime local governments come in conflict with each other. The beautiful hill country town of New Braunfels found its two school districts on opposite sides of a debate over the use of masks. After Governor Greg Abbott ended the mandated mask policy on March 10, the New Braunfels ISD surveyed parents of the mostly low-income, Hispanic students and voted to keep the mask mandate in place. The Comal ISD which represents the rural and mostly Anglo parts of the county voted to make the masks voluntary claiming personal responsibility and parental choice. Teachers do not know the preferences of the parents and say that students are facing peer pressure to quite wearing masks. The county is a Republican county with seventy percent of the people giving Donald Trump their vote in November. Local elected leaders say it is a fight between the moderate conservatives and those moving farther to the right.2 This chapter will help to better understand the different levels of local government and how they interact with each other.
- 10.1: The Relationship Between Local, State, and National Government
- This page discusses the Texas Constitution of 1875, highlighting the importance of local government, particularly counties and cities, with extensive mentions throughout the document. Articles 9 and 11 formalize counties and municipalities as legal subdivisions. Local government is vital for Texans, impacting infrastructure and education, and citizens interact more with local officials than state ones.
- 10.2: Municipal (City) Government
- This page details Texas city government evolution post-1836, highlighting the shift to home-rule in 1912 and the distinct governance frameworks of mayor-council and council-manager systems. Challenges from population growth, such as traffic and crime, necessitate enhanced services funded by local taxes. State legislative actions, including preemption, complicate local governance and urban management, impacting the ability of cities to address pressing needs effectively.
- 10.3: County Governments
- This page discusses Texas' 254 counties, highlighting the population range from 169 in Loving County to over 4.7 million in Harris County. It notes Loving County's unique traits such as high voter turnout and oil income, alongside the county government structure established in the 1876 Constitution that focuses on tax collection, public safety, and road maintenance.
- 10.4: Special Purpose Districts
- This page outlines the role and operation of special purpose districts, including community colleges and councils of government (COGs) in Texas. These districts provide vital services like flood control and education but face criticism over inefficiency, accountability, and tax transparency. Limited oversight and public participation raise concerns.
- 10.5: Conclusion
- This page discusses the essential role of local governments in Texas, shaped by federal and state decisions, in daily life. It categorizes cities into general-law or home-rule, outlines counties' responsibilities in law enforcement and elections, and describes special districts that offer services. The challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of intergovernmental collaboration.
- 10.6: Critical Thinking Questions
- This page discusses the advantages of a council-manager structure in city governance, highlighting its role in minimizing political influence through reliance on professional city managers, which fosters informed decision-making. It also addresses home-rule for counties, suggesting that while traditional governance works, allowing counties to organize flexibly could improve effectiveness, particularly in addressing diverse regional needs.
1. Rose Cahalan and Christopher Collins, “A Weird End for a Weird Year: Our Eight Favorite Strange Texas Stories of 2020,” December 29, 2020 Texas Observer, December 29, 2020.
2. Bekah McNeel, “One Texas Town, Two School Districts and Completely Different Mask Policies. How Science and Politics are Clashing in New Braunfels,” March 25, 2021.