POLS 2312 1st Edition Lecture 7 Outline of Last Lecture I An II Outline of Current Lecture I Municipal governmetn II Revenue III Counties officials Current Lecture Municipal government city government There are increasing responsibilities and limited resources at the city level TX does well b c we filter down federal and state responsibility down to city level Unfunded mandate making a city do something without and funds or initiative to do so Sales and property taxes are limited by state law TX has a regressive tax more income you make less of it is taxed City brings in revenue by fees liquor license cable license franchise fee zoning fees traffic fees building permits Bonds are used to finance capital projects These bonds must be retires or paid off with future city revenue and cannot be sold for capital projects unless voters say yes Many tax exemptions homestead senior citizen and veteran disabled Too many Tax reinvestment zones tax breaks to attract investment in blighted inner city and other areas that need improvement Counties are an arm of the state They serve a need to the state County office structure has no head closest judge Counties issue auto license elections fees and taxes and courts administer justice Health and welfare programs are issued at county level County must have judge and 4 commissioners county attorney sheriff clerk constable tax assessor collector treasurer Commissioners major legislative body Elected in single member districts Handles policy making like budgets tax rates provide health welfare courthouse jail maintain roads County attorney handles legal civil and criminal affairs Clerk keeps up with paperwork File legal documents birth certificates and death certificates These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute
View Full Document
Unlocking...