County government is essential because it delivers services that people need on a daily basis, such as health care, law enforcement, roads and bridges, senior services, and veterans services.
Your county officials, who are made up of those elected by the people, serve at the pleasure of the citizens.
The Commissioners Court sets policy and governs the activities of the county. As members of this court, you serve as local representatives who carry local issues and concerns to your state and federal government officials.
There are many challenges and opportunities that occur with your constituents, and as officials you are constantly making decisions that affect the lives of the people in your community. You make these decisions based on the items that are budgeted to carry out the different services. The budget process is a very important aspect of the Commissioners Court because each decision made during the budget process influences the services offered.
Not only do county services cover day-to-day operations, but they also incorporate judicial matters including misdemeanors, felonies, probates, guardianships, and juvenile cases, just to name a few. In addition, the county is responsible for emergency management response in case of a natural disaster or public health crisis.
The Commissioners Court holds regularly scheduled meetings to conduct business and to keep the public informed. The public has many opportunities to give feedback and input that may influence decisions. This helps create more transparency and gives the public a strong feeling of community involvement.
You as county officials should be in constant contact with your state and federal partners to collaborate with them on local issues. Through this collaboration, the possibility of delivering the services needed is greatly increased. There are a lot of decisions that can be made at the county level, but it is important to realize that other decisions are beyond our control.
Economic development is critical for growth. This growth comes in the forms of attracting businesses, supporting existing businesses, and making sure that the county infrastructure can support new businesses.
To attract new businesses, the county should consider tax incentives and partner with workforce development to make sure employees are available. All of these efforts will create jobs, which will bring in additional revenue to the county and may mean additional services.
As you can see, the county is a very complex form of government that is closest to the people. As county officials, we are always coming in contact with our constituents, and this can help us better understand their concerns and needs. We need their input to offer the services that are expected. Always have an open ear and listen for constructive suggestions from your voters.