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Last month, we tried to shed some light on Texas Senate Bill 2 and the efforts underway in the state legislature to reform property taxing power by local municipalities. That post did not take a side on the wisdom of the bill. It only sought to highlight how,...
Public service, whether it's fulfilled by someone elected or on the payroll of a Texas municipality, carries certain ethical obligations. The reason why is easy to understand. It can be tempting to abuse political power for financial gain at the cost of the common...
There is likely not a county or municipal official in Texas unaware of the debate underway in Austin related to state efforts to cap local government entities' abilities to raise revenues they need to meet constituent demands. It's too early to say what the...
Workers' compensation is not a mandated benefit in Texas. That is one of a few ways in which our state differs from others. At the same time, some employers, including many local municipalities and political subdivisions do carry some form of coverage. The Texas...
It isn't often that the maneuverings within the halls of a city government make it into the mainstream media. When it does, it is perhaps worth taking time to examine the situation to see if there is something to learn that could help your community avoid unwanted,...
The dreams of most young Texas football players likely include showing their stuff on the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The dream came true late last month for teams from across the state, including the Punchers out of Mason. And the Punchers demonstrated...
Greek mythology tells the tale of Sisyphus; a man who, for eternity, must push a boulder up a hill. Before he ever reaches the top, the rock rolls back down. Today, the term Sisyphean sometimes describes what seems to be never-ending work. Many leaders in Texas local...
Freedom of information is a foundational tenet of American democracy. The argument goes that transparency about government operations is critical for voters to exercise their electoral rights and responsibilities. At the federal level, the Freedom of Information Act...
Words have power. Meanings of words are important. Definitions can vary, however, and that can create interesting legal tangles. As an example, recall the statement in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton, "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is." You can...
There are different ways Texas municipalities and cities can manage labor relations with local public employees. In this regard, size matters. The larger the community, the greater the possibility that police and firefighting employees have representation by unions...