1. Chapter 12 – Local Government

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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