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Texas County Progress

Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

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Back to School Basics

September 1, 2019 by County Progress

When it comes to county government, the learning never stops. Over the years, County Progress has continued to fill our backpack with a collection of educational materials.  

In 2015, County Progress debuted our County Courthouse Primer, which includes a series of articles on the individual offices within the courthouse. This special booklet also includes “Key Concept” installments designed to address essential questions related to county government complete with statutory references and talking points. Can Commissioners Court regulate traffic or set a curfew? Can a county finance debt? Are Commissioners required to file road reports? These and other topics are covered in this unique publication, available for viewing at www.countyprogress.com. County Progress revised our primer in 2017; we will be updating the County Courthouse Primer once again over the next year to reflect the latest legislative changes. 

     Some nine years ago, the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, and the Texas Association of Counties joined forces to develop a curriculum dedicated to the young people of the Lone Star State.  

    Keys to the Courthouse: Promoting County Government Awareness in Youth is a 170-plus page, leadership-oriented publication on county government. This 4-H curriculum, released in May 2010, is designed for middle and high school students. The five lessons teach participants about the functions of elected county officials in Texas, the primary services offered by county government, the justice process at the county level, elections and voting, and the financing of county government. Each lesson has appropriate activities to reinforce learning. Accompanying the curriculum is a large wall map showing the counties of Texas and a CD that contains the lessons, activities, and informative videos.  

     To purchase this curriculum or to share this resource with your local educators, go to https://vgyi.tamu.edu/education-offered/youth-keys-to-the-courthouse/. 

     In the meantime, who among us couldn’t use a refresher course on some of the basics of county government?    

(Psst… check your quiz answers at www.countyprogress.com.)

    As locally elected officials, County Judges and County Commissioners are in regular contact with those they serve. While some of your constituents may make courthouse appointments, others may approach you in a casual setting such as the local coffee shop or at a sporting event. 

     You never know when you will be asked a basic or complicated question regarding county government. While sometimes the best answer is, “I will research and get back to you,” other times install recall will serve you well. 

     Over the years, veteran County Judges and Commissioners have advised their peers on Commissioners Courts to have answers to these questions at their fingertips. 

  1. What is my total county budget? 
  1. What is my county tax rate? 
  1. What services does my county provide? (See mandatory/discretionary quiz.) 

 Page through your final budget document. If you don’t understand the following, ask your county’s budget officer to explain: 

  1. Your county’s special funds and dedicated funds 
  1. Your county’s debt service funds 

Flow charts are an easy way to help your taxpayers understand how county government is structured. Ellis County includes a personnel chart in the county’s final budget document.

Filed Under: Education, Feature Story Tagged With: back to school basics, education

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Dates of Interest for the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

Official deadlines will be set when the House and Senate adopt their rules, but until then, the Texas Legislative Council Drafting Manual provides the following general calendar: 

Bill pre-filing began:  Nov. 14, 2022 

1st day of session:  Jan. 10, 2023 

60-day bill filing deadline:  March 10, 2023  

Adjournment sine die:  May 29, 2023 

Post-session 20-day deadline for governor to sign or veto:  June 18, 2023 

Effective date (91st day after adjournment):  Aug. 28, 2023

Sample Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court

Resolutions

Unfunded Mandate Resolution

The latest resolutions passed by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas and the three Regional Associations are available at the links below.

County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Resolutions 2022

North & East Texas Resolutions 2022

South Texas Resolutions 2022

West Texas Resolutions 2023

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