Local Government in Texas

City Government in Texas 1,209 municipalities in Texas Municipalities are state creations.

The state can create, merge, or disband them.

Towns with >5,000 residents may apply for “home-rule” status. City charter recognized by the state

Alternatively, towns may follow the basic rules set out by the state for all municipalities.

Municipal Governments in Texas, 2010

The Largest Home-Rule Cities, 2010

Forms of City Government in Texas Mayor-council form of city government

City has a mayor and city council Mayor is elected from city at-large Council either at-large or single-member

districts Council acts as city legislature

Strong v. weak mayor differences Personnel: can hire and fire department

heads Budget authority Degree of power shared with city manager

Forms of City Government in Texas

Council-manager government Most common in Texas

250 of 291 home-rule cities in the state

City council may select a mayor, or mayor elected

Council hires a city manager to run the city Manager does not campaign or run for office

Applies for and holds executive public position much like public school superintendents, who are hired by local school boards

Forms of City Government in Texas

Council Commission government City commissioners select a President Commissioners oversee specific

departments

School Districts School board of trustees

Adopts a budget and sets the tax rate Hires superintendent

Most districts, superintendent hires district personnel

Smallest districts, board may take on those duties

Selects textbooks Sets school calendar

Special Districts

Local government that performs a single service within a limited geographical area

Non-school Districts

Municipal utility districts (MUDs) Provide services to certain areas outside of cities

Flood control districts Community college districts Hospital districts Water districts

Councils of Government

Councils of governments (COGs) Regional planning boards that try to

coordinate efforts of local governments Comprised mostly of elected officials

May include other community members

Deal with issues relevant to several local governments Make sense in large areas where there are many

layers of local government and coordination may be useful