Ch11 - Local and County Govs and Special Districts in TX

Question 1

Municipal gov applies to

Answer 1

cities, towns, and villages that are recognized by the legislature as being gov entities

Question 2

Types of Municipalities

Answer 2

1. General Law
2. Home Rule

Question 3

General Law

Answer 3

A highly restrictive and the most fundamental legal status for municipal gov
Mostly present in rural areas (<5K pop)
Governed by the state
Lower taxes, fewer services

Question 4

Home Rule

Answer 4

A legal status that gives municipalities more autonomy in establishing tax rates and providing services; must be approved by a majority of the voters in municipalities consisting of >5K people
Higher taxes, more services

Question 5

Forms of municipal gov

Answer 5

1. Mayor Council
2. Council Manager
3. Commission

Question 6

Mayor Council

Answer 6

Widely used in less populated and rural areas
Most day to day executive operations are carried out by either the mayor or by a city council
1. Weak mayor
Mayor has limited policy implementation and no veto powers; cannot appoint or remove depot heads
2. Strong mayor
Can veto policies and ordinances, budgetary powers

Question 7

Council Manager

Answer 7

Medium and large sized cities
The qualified voters who reside in the city elect a city council and a mayor that hire a city manager to carry out the council’s policies
Professional management and local political control
City manager position is apolitical

Question 8

City Manager

Answer 8

Professional political appointee who oversees city operations on a day to day basis

Question 9

Commission

Answer 9

Very rare
A group of elected commissioners run the city’s gov
Each commissioner is responsible for overseeing a specific component of operations
Criticized for being too fragmented

Question 10

Municipal Election

Answer 10

Nonpartisan
Cost of campaigns are low
For larger populations, an election administrator manages elections, certifies ballots, and reports election results

Question 11

Types of municipal elections

Answer 11

1. At Large system
2. Place System
3. Single-member districts

Question 12

At large system

Answer 12

A method of electing representatives where there are no districts or wards drawn, and the candidate may draw votes from the entire area to be governed.

Most common in small towns

Question 13

Place system

Answer 13

A system of electing local gov leaders whereby candidates must campaign for a particular seat on the city council.

Most used in medium sized, more homogenous cities
Benefits political newcomers

Question 14

Single-member districts

Answer 14

Specific geographic areas with a population equal to that of other districts that elects one person to represent the area

Large and diverse cities
Assures diversity of council
Successful candidates attempt to form coalitions

Question 15

Coalitions

Answer 15

Alliances consisting of a variety of indvdls and groups in support of a particular candidate for elected office

Question 16

What groups strongly affect local government leaders?

Answer 16

Ethnic and neighborhood associations

Question 17

Municipalities rely on what type of tax?

Answer 17

Property tax

Question 18

Ad valorem

Answer 18

A system of taxation that is assessed “according to value,” whereby the more a property is worth, the higher the tax to be paid on it
Values are determined by the county property assessment office

Question 19

Franchise tax

Answer 19

a specific tax paid by biz operating in TX

Question 20

User fees

Answer 20

Monies paid to local govs by citizens who utilize a particular gov service (eg tuition at a state school or fees at a public boat ramp)

30% or more of revenue

Question 21

Capital Improvements

Answer 21

long-term infrastructure improvements, such as roads, that are often built with bond money

Question 22

General obligation bonds

Answer 22

Issued by the local government for the purpose of making capital improvements, and, like a mortgage, are paid off in small, yearly payments

Question 23

Revenue Bonds

Answer 23

Issued by the local gov for the purpose of capital improvements and repaid by revenue generated by the improvement.
Ex: sport arenas, public facilities for which there’s an admission charge

Question 24

Eminent Domain

Answer 24

TX Constitution allows municipalities the right to reclaim private property in the name of the gov if the property is needed for the greater public good

Must pay FMV
Cannot use to generate a larger tax base

Question 25

Everything counties do is on the behalf of the

Answer 25

state

Question 26

Structure of county gov

Answer 26

County officials are elected locally
Plural executive
Weak autonomy
Boundaries are permanent
Commissioners court and elected county officials who serve 4 year terms

Question 27

Elected officials in a county

Answer 27

Partisan elections; 4 year terms; more autonomy than city officials

Question 28

Sheriff

Answer 28

Provide law enforcement services to areas that r not served by a police depot
Oversee county jail
Peace officer

Question 29

Constable

Answer 29

Works with the justice of the peace courts (smaller area than sheriff)
1 constable: 1 JP

Question 30

District or county attorney

Answer 30

Legal officer and adviser
Legal services for county agencies and legal representation
May initiate a lawsuit against another gov agency or private concern
Sole discretion in determining whether an individual will be held accountable for committing a crime

Question 31

District clerk

Answer 31

Official custodian of county records, including all filings and proceedings for the districts courts and county courts at law

Question 32

County clerk

Answer 32

Maintain the county’s legal records and vital statistics
Records the court’s minutes and certifies all candidates running for office

Question 33

Tax-Assessor Collector

Answer 33

DOES NOT assess property value
identifies taxable property and collects state and county taxes
registration renewal fees and titles for motor vehicles

Question 34

Treasurer

Answer 34

Bookkeeper
Considerable input in the county’s budget

Question 35

Criticism of county gov

Answer 35

1. Long ballot
2. Inability to establish home rule
3. Inability to pass ordinances

Question 36

Special districts

Answer 36

A type of local gov established for a specific geographic area and for a specific purpose such as education, flood control, or public utility services

Question 37

Independent School District

Answer 37

local level limited purpose gov that determines public school policy
Governed by the school board

Question 38

Superrintendent

Answer 38

The appointed manager of a public school system

Question 39

Non-education districts

Answer 39

Majority of funding: property taxes
Deliver services like utilities, public housing, flood control, etc

Question 40

Councils of Government

Answer 40

A regional voluntary cooperative with no regulatory or enforcement powers; it consists of local govs and assesses the needs of the area as a whole.

Question 41

Functions of Councils of Governments

Answer 41

planning and implementing regional homeland security strategies;
* providing training for all city officials, including managers and council members;
* operating law enforcement training academies;
* promoting regional municipal solid waste and environmental quality planning;
* providing cooperative purchasing options for governments;
* managing region-wide services to the elderly;
* maintaining and improving regional 9-1-1 systems;
* promoting regional economic development;
* operating specialized transit systems; and
* providing management services for member governments.

Question 42

Typical Duties of a City Manager

Answer 42

Enforce all city ordinances, rules, and regulations.
* Supervise all municipal employees and programs.
* Prepare and execute the city’s annual budget pursuant to the revenue and expenditure plans adopted by
the council.
* Manage the city’s funds and prepare periodic reports that advise the council and the general public of the
city’s fiscal condition.
* Provide information to the council to facilitate its ability to make informed decisions in the best interests of
the city.
* Prepare council meeting agendas and attend all such meetings to serve as a resource to the council and
the public.
* Draw the council’s attention to city needs and recommend alternatives by which the council can respond to those needs.

Question 43

Major Duties of the Commissioners Court

Answer 43

1. Set tax rate and adopt county budget.
2. Appoint county officials authorized under statutory law and hire personnel.
3. Fill county elective offices and appointive vacancies.
4. Administer elections, including establishment of voting precincts, the appointment of an election administrator, the appointment of precinct judges, the calling of county bond elections, and the
   certification of election returns.
5. Enter contracts and authorize payment of all county bills.
6. Build and maintain county roads and bridges.
7. Build, maintain, and improve county facilities, including jails.
8. Provide for libraries, hospitals, and medical care for the indigent.
9. Provide for emergency relief and civil disaster assistance.
10. Provide for fire protection and sanitation.