According to CJCAT Senior General Counsel Jim Allison, AG Opinion JM-63 held that “the Commissioners Court controls the preparation of the agenda.” However, AG Opinion DM-473 affirmed that “each member of a County Commissioners Court may place items on the agenda...” Regarding deadlines for submitting agenda items for consideration, Allison offered the following: “Although … [Read more...] about Key Concept: Posting Commissioners Court Agenda Items
Key Concept
Key Concept: Setting County Salaries
Who sets the salaries of elected officials and county employees? REFERENCE POINTS: Local Government Code Chapter 152 Attorney General Opinion JM-947 Attorney General Opinion GA-638 Attorney General Opinion GA-639 TALKING POINTS: During the budget process, questions often arise concerning the salaries of county employees and elected officers. Under … [Read more...] about Key Concept: Setting County Salaries
Commissioners Court Meetings
Are Commissioners Court meetings required to be conducted under formal parliamentary procedure? MAIN REFERENCE POINTS: Attorney General Opinion DM-228 Texas Local Government Code Sections 81.005 and 81.006 Texas Government Code Section 551.007 TALKING POINTS: No legal requirement obligates Commissioners Court meetings to be conducted under a formal … [Read more...] about Commissioners Court Meetings
Animal Control
KEY QUESTION: Do Commissioners Courts have animal control authority? MAIN REFERENCE POINT: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 826 TALKING POINTS: Counties and cities are not required to provide animal control services. Counties and cities may adopt the provisions of Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 826 and implement rules or ordinances to prevent stray … [Read more...] about Animal Control
Amending The Texas Constitution
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing. As of 2024, the Texas Legislature had proposed a total of 714 amendments. Of these, 530 have been adopted, 181 have been defeated by Texas voters, and three amendments never made it to the ballot. Seventeen more proposed amendments will be submitted for voter approval at the general election on … [Read more...] about Amending The Texas Constitution