How Should We Count the Inmates? The Maryland, Delaware, and New York legislatures recently approved laws that, for redistricting purposes, will count inmates at their most recent permanent home addresses before they were incarcerated, rather than at the institution where they are housed. Maryland’s law, the first to be enacted,will … [Read more...] about Redistricting
From the General Counsel
Emergency Services Districts Under Review
As demand for fire and ambulance services increase, many communities are creating Emergency Services Districts (ESDs). There are currently 288 ESDs in Texas. The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations has been … [Read more...] about Emergency Services Districts Under Review
State Budget Cuts Affect Counties
With declines in property values, sales tax revenues, and motor vehicle registrations, Texas counties are experiencing the double-whammy of a down economy. Revenues are dropping while demands for services are increasing. … [Read more...] about State Budget Cuts Affect Counties
Expert Testimony Emphasizes Needs of County Road System
Jim Allison, general counsel of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, was invited to testify on rural infrastructure issues before a joint hearing of the House Agriculture and Livestock Committee and the House Transportation Committee in April. He provided the following testimony: Chair Gonzalez Toureilles and Chair Pickett and Members of the … [Read more...] about Expert Testimony Emphasizes Needs of County Road System
Revenue Caps in a Down Economy
For the first time in the career of many county and state officials the state total property tax valuation will decline this year. In many counties this decline will prompt a painful choice: 1) Reduce the county budget or 2) Increase the tax rate to maintain current revenues. Rather than increase … [Read more...] about Revenue Caps in a Down Economy