Local Government in the US

A municipal government where an elected council appoints a city manager to handle daily operations.

A municipal government with an elected mayor and council.

A mayoral form with considerable executive authority, common in larger cities.

A mayoral form with less executive power often used in smaller cities.

Money spent by municipalities on various public services.

A hierarchical structure of a school district, typically with an elected school board overseeing the superintendent and other staff.

Local government established for a specific purpose, often across multiple municipalities.

School districts often work with council-manager municipalities, sharing similar progressive-era origins.

Special districts are created to serve the unique needs of areas with limited government resources. Originally, these were common in rural regions but are now found in urban areas as well.

Special districts in Texas experienced significant growth from the 1950s to the 1990s. However, the rate of growth has slowed or leveled off since then.

Land developers can utilize special districts to access low-cost loans for infrastructure projects.

Different local government entities (e.g., cities, counties, special districts) may have overlapping jurisdictions, leading to potential conflicts.

State governments can influence school funding and local debt in Texas. This can lead to tension and require school districts to adjust their budgets or tax rates.

Texas state governments have the ability to overturn local regulations for energy production, such as banning fracking.

State governments often override local policies, particularly when they limit discrimination, regulate certain products, or set guidelines for certain behaviors.

Several other states enact laws to prevent local governments from creating policies on topics such as paid sick leave or specific social behaviors.

Texas counties are led by a Commissioners' Court, not an executive. This court often includes a county judge and commissioners elected from districts.

County governments mainly rely on property taxes (over 50% in Texas), sales taxes, licenses/fees, and grants.

A significant portion of county spending is dedicated to law enforcement and the justice system, as well as roads/bridges. Health and welfare also consumes a sizable share.

County budgets don't always fairly distribute resources, creating unevenness in funding among different areas.

Texas municipalities can have either general law charters, where powers are explicitly granted by the state, or home rule charters, giving municipalities more autonomy (non-restricted powers).

A common municipal government where an elected mayor leads alongside a council. Variations exist, from strong-mayor to weak-mayor models.

A municipal government type where an elected council hires a professional manager to handle daily operations, common in Texas.

Texas does not have a mandated civil service system for county employees, which is a choice delegated to counties.