Texas Government 2306

Texas Government 2306

Unit 11

Local Government

The Challenges of Local Government

The Challenges of Local Government

Multiple numbers and kinds of local government make it difficult for even concerned citizens to find a connection

County governments City governments (municipalities)Special districts– School districts– Non-school districts

Townships (not in Texas)

Types of Local Governments-2002

Types of Local Governments-2002

Counties - 1Counties - 1

A general-purpose government and an administrative arm (sub-unit) of the state:

Less flexible than a municipality in organization and function—all counties must have same structure regardless of population and/or needs

Do not have home rule option;Cannot pass ordinances unless authorized by the state;

Two Counties Functions

Two Counties Functions

1. Carry out state government functions An administrative subunit of state government Brings state government closer to the people

2. Provide services, especially for those living outside the city limits

Counties – Functions -1Counties – Functions -1Carry out state government functions:

Running county, state, and national elections, but not local ones;

Houses state district courts;Securing rights-of-way for highways;Law enforcementRegistering births, deaths, and marriagesRecording land titles and deeds; Registering motor vehicles;Collecting some state taxes & fees;Other powers authorized by state law

Counties – Functions - 2Counties – Functions - 2

Provide services, especially for those living outside city limits:

Law enforcementMaintaining roads, streets, & bridges

Structure of County Government

Structure of County Government

Structure of County GovernmentStructure of County Government

Structure & Organization of CountiesStructure & Organization of Counties

Primary officials of the county include:The commissioner’s court;The county judge;The sheriff;Constables;Tax assessor-collectorThe county treasurer;The county auditor;The county clerk;The district clerk;County attorneys/district attorneys

Revenue Sources for Counties

Revenue Sources for Counties

Property tax Service charges Fines Intergovernmental transfers ($ from federal

government)

County Government Expenditures

County Government Expenditures

Law enforcement & county jail Judicial—county & justice of the peace courts Roads & bridge maintenance and construction In rural counties (or without large cities):

LibraryAirportParks & recreation

Ector County Budget-2006

Ector County Budget-2006

Ector County – Revenue Sources-2006

Ector County – Revenue Sources-2006

Counties: Issues and Problems

Counties: Issues and Problems

Constitutional Rigidity—same structure for all counties

Lack of much ordinance-making powerLong Ballot A Spoils SystemPublic Disinterest No single executive/person in charge

Texas Counties by Population

Texas Counties by Population

Types of MunicipalitiesTypes of Municipalities General-law cities – an incorporated community with a

population of 5,000 or less and limited in the subject matter upon which it may legislate

Home-rule cities – a city with 5,000 or more people which can adopt its own charter and structure:

If population drops below 5,000 it may retain the designation;Voters may impose their will directly through an initiative, referendum, or recallWrite their own city charter & structure of city governmentGreater taxation powerGreater annexation power (can annex land without property owner’s consent)Greater freedom to govern city (without state government interference)

City Governments in Texas

1952-2002

City Governments in Texas

1952-2002

Types of City GovernmentTypes of City Government

Strong Mayor-Council type

Weak Mayor-Council type

Commission type

Council-Manager type

Strong Mayor Council Form

Strong Mayor Council Form

Forms of Local Government- IForms of Local Government- I Strong Mayor-Council form

has a mayor elected at-large and is both chief executive and legislative leader

Makes appointments of major department heads Prepares a budgetMay have veto power over city council decisionsCity planning is primarily the responsibility of mayorAdvantage: City has strong leadership Cities 250,000+ use this type of city government

Weak Mayor Council Form

Weak Mayor Council Form

Forms of Local Government- 2Forms of Local Government- 2

Weak-Mayor-Council formMayor lacks veto power & can only vote to break a tie

vote on council

Council often primarily responsible for city budget & planning

Council either has primarily responsibility of appointments or shares it with the mayor

– Advantage: cheaper– Disadvantage: Lacks unified lines of authority since the mayor

and council share administrative authority

Used primarily by cities under 5,000 in population

Commission Form of City Government

Commission Form of City Government

Forms of Local Government-3Forms of Local Government-3

Commission form: Voters elect one set of officials who serve on the city commission (city council)Act as both executives and legislators:Each is a department head & runs a city departmentMayor title rotates—each year a different commissioner is “mayor”

– Advantage: accountability—voters know who is responsible for every city service or program

– Disadvantage: commissioners often become more concerned about dept. than city problems (A disappearing form of city government)

Council Manager FormCouncil Manager Form

Forms of Local Government-4Forms of Local Government-4

Council-Manager formhas an elected city council & city mayorMayor is weak, ceremonial figure, presides over council

meetings and can cast tie-breaking voteCity manager is hired by the council-no fixed termThe city manager is responsible for the day to day

operations—city planning, prepares & submits city budget, appoints department heads

The council makes policy decisionsUsed by medium-size cities

Advantage: city run by trained professional, doesn’t worry about re-election

Disadvantage: “undemocratic”—manager not elected

Municipal Election Systems

Municipal Election Systems

At-large elections - citywide elections of two forms:a pure at-large system where voters elect all the members of

the city council with the winners being those with the most votes;

An at-large place system, candidates run for a particular seat on the council

Key point: city council candidates run city-wide

Single-member districts - a system with members elected from individual districts by voters who live in each district

City Elections: 3 Progressive Reforms

City Elections: 3 Progressive Reforms

1. Off-Year ElectionsIn November of odd-numbered yearsIn May of even-numbered years

2. Non-Partisan Elections

3. At-large ElectionsReasons why medium & large cities have abandoned thisKey: who does at-large elections hurt?Change has been voluntary and/or court-ordered

Cities: Sources of Revenue

Cities: Sources of Revenue

Sales taxes – a 1% statewide sales tax; experiences considerable ups and downs

Property taxes where the revenue is based on a percent of assessed value of real property.

User fees, or charging citizens for services received Public debt, usually in the form of bonds issues that

must be approved by voters Rollback election which limits an increase in the

property tax rate to no more than 8%

Cities: SpendingCities: Spending

Public SafetyLaw enforcementFire protection

Public Works (road, street, & bridge maintenance & construction)

Water & Sewage Parks & Recreation

City of Odessa: Revenue Sources

City of Odessa: Revenue Sources

Property Taxes Paid– Ector County-By Home

Value-2006

Property Taxes Paid– Ector County-By Home

Value-2006

Odessa City Budget – 2007-08

Odessa City Budget – 2007-08

Odessa: Changing Demographics

Odessa: Changing Demographics

OC--Changing DemographicsOC--Changing Demographics

Hispanics: 48.5% Anglos: 45.8% Blacks: 3.9% Asians: .8% American Indian .7%

Women: 63.3% Men: 36.4%

ECISD --Changing Demographics

ECISD --Changing Demographics

HISPANIC 58%  ANGLO 35.3%  BLACK 5.3%

ASIAN 1.4%

ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-1ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-1 Ector

County Texas

CRIME Violent Crimes 8.54/per 1,000 5.44/per 1,000 Intoxicated Drivers Rate 21.02/per 1,000 4.13/per 1,000 Drug-related Arrests 9.86/per 1,000 5.0/per 1,000 Family Violence 19.66/per 1,000 8.82/per 1,000 EDUCATION Functionally Illiterate Adults 32% 24% School Dropout Rate 10.6% 4.5% $ Spent/Student $6,336 $7,708 College Degree 12% 23.2% % Graduating H.S.-4 yrs. 74.6% 84.2% TAKS Passing 59.0% 68.0%

ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-2

ECTOR COUNTY vs. TEXAS COMPARISON-2

Ector County TEXAS

 HEALTH Lung Cancer Deaths 61.6/per 100,000 54.2/per 100,000 Deaths: Heart 273.3/per 100,000 259/per 100,000 Chronic Lower Respiratory Deaths 93.1/per 100,000 46.7/per 100,000 % W/O Health Insurance 28.2% 26.3% Infant Mortality 9.8% 6.1% Rate of Teen Mothers 22.3% 14.7% ECONOMIC Per Capita Income $22,342 $29,039 Poverty Rate 18.7% 14.6% Unemployment Rate 6.0% 6.8% POLITICAL % Registered Voters Voting 52.4% 56.6%

Texas Cities by Population

City Ranking Population Change

Texas Cities by Population

City Ranking Population Change

Special DistrictsThe Hidden

Governments

Special DistrictsThe Hidden

Governments Special districts are units of local government that

provide a single or closely related services that are not provided by general-purpose county or municipal governments:the most numerous of all local governments in Texas.2/3rds in Texas provide a single serviceProvide an alternative revenue sourceCreated by voters in the area to be the special district &

granted limited taxation powers

Special Districts in Texas

1952-2002

Special Districts in Texas

1952-2002

Special DistrictsIssues and Trends

Special DistrictsIssues and Trends

Multiple Governments – while special districts may be dissolved the trend has been toward an increase in them

Reasons for growth of special districtsCounties & cities overwhelmed alreadySome problems overlap into several cities/counties

Reasons for concern over the rise of special districts:the actions of officials and employees are less visible than if the services were provided by a county or city;special district elections held at times or places other than general elections have very low voter turnout

Who Collects Your Property Taxes--Odessa

Residents--2006

Who Collects Your Property Taxes--Odessa

Residents--2006

2006-Who Collects Your Property Taxes-

Residents outside Odessa

2006-Who Collects Your Property Taxes-

Residents outside Odessa

Councils of Governments (COGs)Councils of Governments (COGs)

Councils of government (COGs) - an attempt by the state to encourage coordination of local government activities on a regional basis

COGs provides several significant services including regional planning, technical services, and help in applying for grants.

By bringing local officials together, COGs provide a base for the exchange of ideas and knowledge

URBAN CRISIS URBAN CRISIS 1. URBANIZATION - 1860-1945 2. SUBURBANIZATION - 1945 +

Better quality of life– Low taxes– New schools– Open spaces– Less crime & congestion

FHAInterstatesBrown decision

3. “WHITE FLIGHT” – Middle & Upper Classes– Business Outflow– Loss of tax base = less tax revenue

           4. POOR WHITES & MINORITY INFLOW –

– Need & demand for more social services

Changing Demographics & the Urban Crisis

Changing Demographics & the Urban Crisis

Problems of CitiesProblems of Cities 1.                  LACK OF MONEY 2.                  LOSS OF INDUSTRY/JOBS 3.                  SLUMS 4.                  LACK OF ADEQUATE HOUSING 5.                  INCREASING CRIME 6.                  CONGESTION - TRANSPORTATION 7.                  POLLUTION - WATER, AIR 8.                  OLD SCHOOLS- $ MONEY 9.                  RACIAL PROBLEMS 10.              POVERTY - UNEMPLOYMENT 11.              MULTIPLICITY (TOO MANY) OF GOVERNMENTS

Solutions to Urban Crisis

Solutions to Urban Crisis

1.                  TAX INCREASES PROBLEM? 2.                  BORROW MONEY PROBLEM? 3.                  FEDERAL AID PROBLEM? 4.                  STATE AID PROBLEM? 5.                  ANNEX LAND INTO CITY PROBLEM? 6.                  TAX INCENTIVES for businesses 7.                  NEIGHBORHOOD RENOVATION For

families 8.                  SCHOOLS??