Chapter 12 – Local Government

Learning Objectives 12.1 Compare the functions and powers of local and state governments 12.2 Outline the powers held by county government offices 12.3 Explain the forms under which cities can incorporate 12.4 Classify the types of city government 12.5 Analyze the benefits and challenges of special districts 12.6 Describe the process and challenges of local government elections 12.7 Identify problems facing local government and possible solutions

The Powers and Functions of Local Governments Preemption Supremacy of rules and laws handed down at the state level Dillon’s Rule State governments can place restrictions on municipalities as long as these rules do not violate the state’s constitution Local Regulation ordinances

County Government Unincorporated Area Region administered by county not city Country Judge and Commissioner’s Court County Sheriff Country Prosecutors County Administrators County Finance Officials

City Governments General Law Cities Home Rule City Charter Operates under laws the state provides Home Rule City Self governing city Independent of state law Charter City’s governing document

City Governments Home Rule Cities Initiative Referendum Recall Local voters directly propose ordinances to city charters Referendum Local voters can repeal existing ordinances Recall Voters can oust sitting members of the city government Annexation Joining of unincorporated land into the boundary of an existing city

Types of City Government Mayor-Council System Elected mayor and a city council Commission Government Council-Manager System City council appoints a city manager City manager is the administer hired to run the day-to-day operations in a city

Special Districts Special District School Districts Single purpose government that performs a specialized function School Districts Special Improvement District Junior/Community College Districts Library Districts Municipal Utility Districts (MUDS) Hospital Districts Homeowners’ Associations (not technically a special district)

Elections County Elections City Elections Minority Representation in Municipal Governments Low Turnout in Municipal Elections Voting and Corruption

Issues in Local Government Local Governments Short on Cash Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones Rising Debt Cooperation Across Governments Councils of Governments (COGs) Sprawl To Zone or Not To Zone Pensions

Texas Takeaways Local governments provide an extensive range of services to the community spanning social, economic, environmental, recreational, and cultural. These usually relate to streets, sanitation, and safety. Each Texas county is run by a county judge and a commissioner’s court made up of four county commissioners. General law cities have limited authority to make laws of their own, whereas home rule cities can largely govern themselves.

Texas Takeaways An unincorporated area or city is generally powerless to stop a larger city from annexing it into its territory. Annexation is occasionally done against the will of the community being annexed The mayor in a strong-mayor system can take a wide range of independent action, but in a weak-mayor system, the mayor has no formal authority to act outside of the council The council-manager system grants more power to the unelected officials than to the elected officials. The system can also invite corruption

Texas Takeaways Special districts have grown because local government has passed off many of these functions to special districts and these districts are free to generate their own tax revenue Municipal Utilities Districts (MUDs) deal with the supply of water, including protection, conservation, storage, irrigation, and drainage Local elections often receive little media attention, include unfamiliar candidates or issues, and are held in years that are not presidential years

Texas Takeaways Holders of at-large offices are elected by the voters in the whole territory. The place system elects individuals from separate seats carved into districts Local governments are short on funds because the state has reduced local property taxes and has not provided additional funds to make up these losses. Rising debt and pension payments are also eating up local government budgets Teaming up on specific projects and councils of governments are two ways that local government may cooperate