County Progress is often asked for information on county roads including an explanation of the “precinct system” and the “unit system.” The text below provides a simple explanation of each system and the related Commissioners Court responsibilities. Our thanks to the road experts who helped us prepare this article.
The Basics
A county road is a public road that has been accepted for maintenance by the Commissioners Court pursuant to the standards set by the Commissioners Court. These roads are located in the unincorporated areas of the county.
There are many roads within the county that are not county-maintained roads including:
- private roads constructed in private subdivisions, maintained by the private residents/homeowners association;
- interstate highways, S. highways, state highways, farm-to-market roads, spurs, and park roads maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation;
- roads within an established subdivision that have not been accepted for maintenance, and therefore are still the responsibility of the developer; and
- roads within the incorporated limits of cities, villages, towns, or other entities, maintained by those entities.
With regard to the authority of the Commissioners Court, Bob Bass, attorney with Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP, cites the Transportation Code and the Local Government Code.
According to Chapter 251 of the Transportation Code, the Commissioners Court may make and enforce all reasonable and necessary rules and orders for the construction and maintenance of public roads and hire the labor and purchase the machinery and equipment needed to construct and maintain public roads.
Article 16, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution, together with Chapters 251, 258, and 281 of the Texas Transportation Code, allow the County Commissioners Courts to lay out and establish, change, and discontinue public roads and highways, and to exercise general control over all roads, highways, ferries, and bridges in their counties.
Road statutes and legal opinions offer additional guidelines delineating authority and limitations, as Bass explained:
- An individual County Commissioner has no authority to establish a county road.
- Roads should be classified as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class roads.
- The Commissioners Court may establish or change the status of a county road.
- The county cannot maintain a private road.
- County labor, materials, and equipment cannot be used on private property. (Note that by way of Article 3, Section 52f of the Texas Constitution, counties with a population under 7,500 may perform work on private roads for a fee, with all proceeds to support county road maintenance.)
- It is vital to have clear authority for maintenance on all roads in the county inventory.
Working the Systems
Chapters 251 and 252 of the Texas Transportation Code discuss general county authority relating to roads and bridges and systems of county road administration, respectively. Many Texas counties operate under the Ex Officio Road Commissioner System, commonly referred to as the “precinct system.” Others operate under the County Road Department System – County Engineer or Road Administrator, commonly referred to as the “unit system.” The statutes do, however, describe five different systems, listed below in the order in which they appear in the Transportation Code.
Road Supervisor System – Chapter 251.004
The County Commissioners are the supervisors of the public roads in a county unless the county adopts an optional system of administering the county roads under Chapter 252.
The statute requires a County Commissioner serving as a road supervisor to supervise the public roads in the Commissioner’s precinct at least once each month. Prior to the 87th Legislative Session, those operating under this system were required by Section 251.005 and 251.018 of the Transportation Code to file a report during the ninth month of the county’s fiscal year. Senate Bill 160 repealed 251.005 and 251.018.
Ex Officio Road Commissioner System – Chapter 252.001
The County Commissioner takes care of the roads in the Commissioner’s precinct. Under rules adopted by the Commissioners Court, the Commissioner directs the laying out of new roads, construction or changing of roads, and building of bridges. Subject to authorization of the Commissioners Court, the Commissioner can hire employees, to be paid from the county road and bridge fund. The statute states that “an ex officio road commissioner has the duties of a supervisor of public roads…,” meaning that those operating under this system were required to file road reports as detailed in Chapter 251.005 and 251.018, discussed above. S.B. 160 is now law, meaning County Commissioners who supervise their precinct roads as part of the Ex Officio Road Commissioner System are no longer required to file a road report, confirmed Jim Allison, general counsel to the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.
In the remaining three systems described in the statute, roads are primarily managed by someone other than the County Commissioners.
Road Commissioner System – Chapter 252.101
The law allows County Commissioners to employ up to four road commissioners who are subject to the control, supervision, orders, and approval of the Commissioners Court. The road commissioner ensures that roads and bridges are kept in good repair, establishes a system of grading and draining public roads, and spends funds as needed on the public roads, bridges, and culverts. Road commissioners may use road districts separate from precincts or operate under a countywide or consolidated system. The road commissioner is required to give regular reports to the Commissioners Court.
While the elected County Commissioners still maintain ultimate control over the roads, the appointed road commissioner oversees the daily activity.
Road Superintendent System – Chapter 252.201
This system is sometimes referred to as the “voluntary unit system.” In this system, the Commissioners Court appoints a road superintendent for the county or one road superintendent for each precinct for a two-year term. Work performed under the road superintendent is subject to the general supervision of the Commissioners Court. The road superintendent directs the laying out, construction, changing, and repairing of roads and bridges, and other related duties including grading and draining. The road superintendent is required to file a sworn report at each regular term of the Commissioners Court.
County Road Department System – County Engineer or Road Administrator – Chapter 252.301
This system, commonly referred to as the “referendum unit system” or “unit system,” requires a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the numbers cast in the last election for governor. The petition is presented and certified by the clerk, like any other election, and then goes on the ballot.
According to the statute, “The ballot for the election shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: ‘Adopting the Optional County Road System in _______ County.’ ” If passed, the countywide system is imposed upon the county and cannot be done away with except by another petition and vote.
The system creates a county road department that includes the Commissioners Court as a policymaking body and the county engineer as the chief executive officer. The Commissioners Court appoints a licensed, professional engineer for an indefinite term. If a county cannot for good reason hire an engineer, the law allows the county to appoint a county road administrator who has had experience in road building or maintenance or other types of construction work.
Two key elements make this system unique. First, every road activity, whether it be construction, maintenance, or use of county road department equipment, is “to be based on the county as a whole without regard to Commissioners’ precincts,” according to the statute.
Second, while the Commissioners Court maintains general policymaking authority, the county engineer or road administrator is the executive officer, meaning he or she makes key decisions including hiring and firing, Bass specified. This contrasts with the Road Commissioner and Road Superintendent systems, in which the Commissioners Court maintains a supervisory role. The county engineer is also required by Chapter 252.309 of the Transportation Code to prepare and file full reports on all aspects of road maintenance.
Required Documentation
Chapter 252 describes who is responsible for road-related reports in the Road Commissioner, Road Superintendent, and County Road Department systems.a) Chapter 252.107 requires a “Road Commissioner” to file reports at each term (meeting) of the Commissioners Court.b) Chapter 252.207 requires a “Road Superintendent” to file a sworn report at each regular term of the Commissioners Court.c) Chapter 252.309 sets out the duties of an “Engineer” or “Administrator” who shall maintain detailed records of all county expenses related to road maintenance. While County Commissioners operating under the precinct system are not required to file road reports, detailed recordkeeping “will have a very beneficial effect as evidence of county maintenance on those occasions when the county is required to defend the status of a disputed roadway,” Bass stated. “The establishment of a routine practice of documenting road maintenance costs will result in much better financial support for preparation of the county budget, and will allow each precinct to better demonstrate its unique needs for funding.”