General-purpose government

Special districts

Councils of Government

Why hidden?

What are special districts?

Units of local government

Single or closely-related services

Cannot or will not be provided by county or city governments

Least known and least understood units of local government

Most numerous of all local Texas governments

7.22% of all special districts in the U.S. located in Texas

Creating a special district

Easy to create

Easy to dissolve when not needed

Helps explain the number

Usually created by an act of the Legislature

Sometimes a local ordinance of a city or county or combination

Address the needs of a local area or a specific group

Serves one function

Borrows money

Assesses taxes and user fees

Dissolved by being annexed by a municipality

Types of special districts

School districts are one type

Water districts

Airport authorities

City transit authorities

Hospital districts

Irrigation districts

Community and junior college districts

Local sports authority

Allowed by House Bill 92 (1997 legislative session)

Why so many special districts?

Inability of counties and cities to deal with regional problems

Districts allow services to be provided without existing government taking responsibility

Can have limited government and services

Local governments have tax and debt ceilings

Through bonds, pass costs on to future taxpayers

Criticisms of special districts

Little or no supervision by the state

Administrative, personnel, and financial practices that are inefficient

Neither responsive nor accountable

Shielded from public scrutiny

Functions are narrow and technical

Not readily publicized to those taxed by the districts

Create yet another layer of government

Form of local government cooperation

Voluntary associations of counties, cities, and special districts formed under Texas law

Deal with the problems and planning needs

Cross-jurisdictional issues

Matters that require regional attention

regional attention.

AKA

Regional Planning Commissions

Associations of Governments

Area Councils

Legal definition

Political subdivision of the state

Has no regulatory power

Has none of the authority possessed by cities, counties or other local governments

Decisions are not binding on member governments

Subject to state laws

Open meetings

Open records

Ethics laws governing public officials