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2.  Local Governments and Federalism  Dillon’s Rule and Cooley Doctrine  Texas’s local governments are created by the state and subject to the state.  More than 5,000 local governments  Grassroots Challenges  Making sure that all communities receive equal access to public services  Voter apathy 2Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

3.  Legal Status of Municipalities  General-law city (900)  Home-rule city (350)  Recall  Initiative  Referendum 3Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

4.  Forms of Municipal Government  Strong mayor-council  Weak mayor-council  Council-manager  Commission 4Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

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7.  Municipal Politics  Rules make a difference  Nonpartisan elections  Voter turnout low  Reduced minority representation  More personal and less issue oriented  At-large elections  Single-member district elections 7Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

8.  Municipal Politics  Socioeconomic changes  Increasing urbanization, education and economic development have resulted in a more diverse state 8Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

9.  Municipal Services  Police and fire protection, streets, water, sewer and sanitation, parks and recreation, libraries, airports, hospitals, community development, housing ■Regulations  Zoning, construction, food service 9Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

10.  Municipal Government Revenue  Resources limited with greater responsibility placed on local governments  Property and sales taxes  Fees  Bonds 10Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

11.  Municipal Government Revenue  Property tax exemptions and caps  The bottom line  Pressure against increasing taxes results in cutting services or finding other means of raising revenue. 11Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

12.  Generating Revenue for Economic Development  Less money coming from federal and state government  Tax reinvestment zones (TRZs)  Tax breaks to attract investment in blighted inner- city and other areas needing development 12Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

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14.  Structure and Operation  Provided by Texas Constitution  Same basic structure for all counties  Partisan election to serve four-year term for all elected county officials 14Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

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17.  Structure and Operation  Commissioners Court  Major policy-making body of the county  Membership includes four elected commissioners for specific precinct  County Judge  Presiding county officer  Completes administrative and judicial functions 17Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

18.  Structure and Operation  County Attorney and District Attorney  County Sheriff  Chief law enforcement officer  Law enforcement and judges  District court clerk, justices of the peace, constables  Country Clerk and County Tax Assessor- Collector  Treasurer and Auditor 18Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

19.  County Finance  Taxation  Property tax  Sales tax  Revenues from nontax sources  Fees  Federal grants-in-aid  Bonds 19Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

20.  County Finance  Tax incentives and subsidies  Tax abatements, reimbursements, tax increment financing  Expenditures  Varies greatly between rural and metro  Largest expenditures are hospitals and health care, public safety and roads  Commissioners court approves the budget 20Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

21.  County Government Reform  Merit systems or home rule  Border Counties  High growth because of NAFTA and immigration  Most impoverished counties in the nation  Colonias (2300)  Depressed housing settlements often without running water or sewage systems  Border security 21Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

22.  Public School Districts  More than 1,000 independent school districts  Governed by elected board  Primarily financed by local property taxes  Increasing ethnic diversity  School finance issues 22Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

23.  Junior or Community College Districts (50)  Elected board  Receive property taxes raised by the local district, state appropriations, small federal aid  Noneducation Special Districts (2,300)  Single districts that provide specific functions in an area  Provide specific services that county may not be able to cover  Personal profit motivation 23Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

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25.  88% of Texans live in metropolitan areas.  With many governments, addressing problems is difficult.  Metro government  Councils of Governments  Voluntary associations of local governments  Perform regional planning activities and provide services 25Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

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27.  Municipal Annexation  Provides process for home-rule cities grappling with suburban sprawl  Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)  Allows regulation and annexation of unincorporated areas  Intended to improve order and planning 27Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

28. 1. Understand the relationships that exist between local governments, as well as the relationships between local government and the state and national governments. 2. Recognize the importance of municipal governments and their forms of organization. 3. Identify the forces that shape local government outcomes. 28Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

29. 4. Analyze the structure and responsibilities of counties. 5. Examine the importance of special districts and how they function within the greater community. 6. Discuss ways that local governments deal with metropolitan-wide and regional issues. 29Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning