2301+Spring+2009+Week+Ten


 * Local Government--under construction, but the internet questions are ready.**

Cities are not mentioned in the Constitution. Neither are counties or small specialized districts like independent school districts, municipal districts, navigation districts and the like. Nevertheless they are not only a key part of the federal system, they have more impact on your day to day life than any other level of government. Below you'll find a variety of links to sources that outline the concept of a city and county and the variosu issues associated with them.


 * Sources**

- [|Local Government]. - [|City]. - [|County]. - [|List of Counties in Texas]. - [|Special Districts]. - [|Metropolitan Areas]. - [|Suburbs]. - [|Commuter Towns]. - [|Urban Decay]. - [|Houston Galveston Area Council]. - [|City of Houston]. - [|Brazoria County]. - Wikipedia: [|Brazoria County]. - [|City of Alvin]. - Wikipedia: [|Alvin, Texas]. - [|Alvin Independent School District].


 * Assignments**

Internet Students

1. Try to determine all the different governmental districts that you live in from bottom to top. This means municipal utility districts, independent school districts, and all the rest. Describe each

2. Outline the governmental structure of the city you live in. What departments exist at the city level? What can you tell about the relationship each department has with each other? What are the city's priorities?

3. Same question as #2, but for counties: Outline the governmental structure of the county you live in. What departments exist at the countyevel? What can you tell about the relationship each department has with each other? What are the county's priorities?

Due March 27th

Lecture Students: Expect a multiple choice test


 * Outline**

Local Governments within the overall structure of American Government - not in the U.S. Constitution - creatures of the state (Dillon’s Rule) - responsible for service delivery - cities, counties - special districts - general law municipalities: less than 5,000 - home rule cities: greater than 5,000

Cities - economic enterprises primarily - every home rule city can decide for itself its form of government -- strong mayor - council -- weak mayor - council -- council – manager -- commission

- revenue: taxes, fees, borrowing --Texas limits tax collection to three types: --- sales taxes --- occupational taxes --- property taxes -- fees --- franchise fees --- licenses and permits -- borrowing --- general obligation bonds --- revenue bonds -- other sources --- utility operations --- TRIZ

- expenditures -- city services

- elections -- non partisan -- at large v single members districts

Counties - branch office of the state - officers of the state, chosen and paid locally - positions -- Commissioners Court --- adopts the county budget --- sets tax rates --- conducts elections --- other functions vary -- County Judges --- principle executive officer of the county --- county budget officer --- presides over county court -- County Attorney --- chief legal officer -- County Sheriff --- chief law enforcement officer --- responsible for jails --- hires deputies -- County Clerk --- keep county records (deeds contracts, births, deaths, etc…) -- County Tax Assessor -- County Treasurer -- County Auditor

- County Finance -- nature of taxing and spending set by state constitution - Revenues -- property taxes - Expenditures -- vary

Special Districts - Independent School Districts -- issues - Community College Districts -- issues - others Metropolitan Areas - 80% of Texans live in metropolitan areas - problems tend to overlap several city and counties. -- Councils of Government --- composed of --- ie, HGAC

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