Countywide precincts, or vote centers, allow voters the option of voting at any of the countywide polling places on Election Day instead of their assigned precinct polling location. A pilot program to test vote centers was authorized by the 79th Legislature’s House Bill 758. Vote centers have been reauthorized by the Texas Legislature ever since. Lubbock County participated … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlight: Elections and Countywide Polling
CJCAT
The Eroding Foundation of County Government
When the current state constitution was adopted in 1876, Texas was a rural, frontier state. With limited communication and transportation systems, a centralized government was not feasible, and county government was a necessity. The framers relied upon locally elected officials to provide essential governmental services, such as law enforcement, courts, public records, roads, … [Read more...] about The Eroding Foundation of County Government
Emergency Medical Services
Health care has been and still is a big issue for counties, and it is becoming an even bigger issue now. There are many counties in Texas that have little or no medical care services. Some do not even have one clinic, and there are still others that do not have a local hospital. In light of these facts, emergency medical services (EMS) is a very important issue. When I … [Read more...] about Emergency Medical Services
Resolution Spotlight – County Land Use Authority
Texas counties operate within the scope of the Texas Constitution, meaning any action taken by the county must be authorized by a statute; this applies to county land use authority. Chapter 232 of the Local Government Code outlines a county’s regulatory authority related to subdivisions beginning with the following: Sec. 232.001. PLAT REQUIRED. The owner of a tract … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlight – County Land Use Authority
CJCAT Welcomes New President
Hello! I am Judge Byron Ryder from Leon County, known as the “Deerest Place in Texas.” I am very honored to serve as the new president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. I would like to thank all of the members of our Association as well as my Commissioners and my county citizens for allowing me to serve. Public office is not a new thing to me. I … [Read more...] about CJCAT Welcomes New President