Ch11 - Local and County Govs and Special Districts in TX Flashcards
Municipal gov applies to
cities, towns, and villages that are recognized by the legislature as being gov entities
Types of Municipalities
- General Law
- Home Rule
General Law
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
Home Rule
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
Forms of municipal gov
- Mayor Council
- Council Manager
- Commission
Mayor Council
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
Council Manager
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
City Manager
Professional political appointee who oversees city operations on a day to day basis
Commission
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
Municipal Election
Nonpartisan
Cost of campaigns are low
For larger populations, an election administrator manages elections, certifies ballots, and reports election results
Types of municipal elections
- At Large system
- Place System
- Single-member districts
At large system
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
Place system
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
Single-member districts
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
Coalitions
Alliances consisting of a variety of indvdls and groups in support of a particular candidate for elected office
What groups strongly affect local government leaders?
Ethnic and neighborhood associations
Municipalities rely on what type of tax?
Property tax
Ad valorem
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
Franchise tax
a specific tax paid by biz operating in TX
User fees
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
Capital Improvements
long-term infrastructure improvements, such as roads, that are often built with bond money
General obligation bonds
Issued by the local government for the purpose of making capital improvements, and, like a mortgage, are paid off in small, yearly payments
Revenue Bonds
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
Eminent Domain
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
