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Texas County Government COUNTY CONSTABLE COUNTY AUDITOR • Serves as a licensed peace officer • Appointed by the district judge(s). and performs various law enforcement • Prepares and administers accounting records functions, including issuing traffic for all county funds. citations. • Audits the records and accounts of the • Serves warrants and civil papers such various county departments. as subpoenas and temporary restraining • Verifies the validity and legality of all county orders. disbursements. TEXAS COUNTY • Serves as bailiff for Justice of the Peace • Forecasts financial data for budgetary Court. formulation purposes. • Serves as budget officer in counties with GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND WORKING FOR YOU more than 225,000 residents. (Counties with COUNTY ATTORNEY more than 125,000 residents may opt for an • Represents the state in prosecuting appointed budget officer.) misdemeanor criminal cases. • Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases. How county government • Provides legal advice to the Commissioners serves you and Court and to other elected officials. FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION • Brings civil enforcement actions on behalf ABOUT YOUR COUNTY: your community. of the state or county. Contact your County Judge’s office. Also, see DISTRICT ATTORNEY www.county.org/countywebsites • Represents the state in prosecuting felony for links to Texas county criminal cases. government websites. • Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases. • Presents cases to the grand jury. • Represents victims of violence in protective orders and represents the state in removing children from abusive households. Some counties do not have both a County Attorney and a District Attorney. These counties have either a Criminal District Attorney or a combination County and District Attorney. In these counties, one office performs the functions of both the County Attorney and the District Attorney. county.org | (512) 478-8753 | (800) 456-5974 COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS Texas county government leadership is composed COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR COUNTY TREASURER of locally elected (and one appointed) officials who • Calculates the effective property tax rate for • Receives and deposits all county revenues. TEXAS COUNTY provide hands-on service to make government work the county. • Acts as chief liaison between the county for the people of Texas. • Collects property taxes. and depository banks. GOVERNMENT • Provides motor vehicle licensing and • Prepares the payroll. EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND WORKING FOR YOU COMMISSIONERS COURT registration. • Disburses funds upon the order of the • Collects various other fees for the state Commissioners Court. The Commissioners Court conducts the general and county. • Records receipts and expenditures and business of the county and consists of the County • Registers voters. reconciles bank statements. Judge and four Commissioners. The Court: • May contract to collect taxes for cities, • May be designated as the county’s How county government serves • Adopts the county’s budget and tax rate. schools and other local taxing entities. investment officer and required to submit you and your community. • Approves all budgeted purchases of the county. regular reports on county finance to the • Fills vacancies in elective and members of the Commissioners Court. appointive offices. COUNTY CLERK • May also act as the county’s human exas’ 254 counties serve their local • Sets all salaries and benefits. • Serves as clerk and custodian of records for resources officer, employee benefits Tresidents as the functional arm of state • Has exclusive authority to authorize contracts. the Commissioners Court, Constitutional coordinator, risk manager and insurance government and cost-effectively provide many • Provides and maintains all county buildings County Court and Statutory County Courts. coordinator. important services, including: and facilities. • Acts as a recorder and custodian of important • May have some audit responsibilities in public records, including all bonds, deeds, counties with no Auditor. • roads and transportation infrastructure; birth and death certificates, assumed names • law enforcement and jails; COUNTY JUDGE and livestock brands, ensuring that records • operation of the state court system; • Presiding officer of the Commissioners Court. are maintained in a secure, archival manner. COUNTY SHERIFF • recording of deeds and vital records; • Represents the county in many administrative • Issues marriage licenses. • Serves as a licensed peace officer and is • elections and voter registration; functions. • Serves as chief elections officer in most responsible for enforcing the criminal laws • emergency management and homeland • Serves as budget officer in counties with fewer counties. of the state. security; than 225,000 residents. • Manages and operates the county jail. • registration of motor vehicles; and • Most have broad judicial duties, such as • Provides security for the courts. • basic healthcare services for indigent presiding over misdemeanor criminal and DISTRICT CLERK • Serves warrants and civil papers. residents. small civil cases, probate matters and appeals • Serves as clerk and custodian of all • Regulates bail bondsmen in counties with from the Justice of the Peace Court. records for the District Courts. no bail bond board. As the government closest to the people, • Serves as head of emergency management and • Indexes and secures all court records, • May serve as the Tax Assessor-Collector in counties are also the most efficient form of homeland security. collects filing fees, and handles funds held in counties with fewer than 8,000 residents. government. litigation and money awarded to minors. The Texas Constitution spells out the structure • • Coordinates the jury panel selection process. of county government and makes counties COUNTY COMMISSIONER • Receives and disburses child support JUSTICE OF THE PEACE functional agents of the state. Unlike cities, • As member of the Commissioners Court, payments. • Hears traffic and other Class C which have broad authority to enact local exercises broad policy-making authority. • Processes passport applications. misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only. ordinances, counties are limited to actions • Represents one of four precincts within the • Manages court registry funds. • Hears civil cases with up to $10,000 in that are specifically authorized in the Texas county. controversy. Constitution and statutes. The constitution • Typically responsible for building and In Texas counties with a population of fewer than 8,000 • Hears landlord and tenant disputes. also established a strong system of checks and maintaining county roads and bridges within (unless there has been a special election) the County • Hears truancy cases. balances in county government by creating their precinct. Clerk also serves as the District Clerk and assumes all • Performs magistrate duties. several elected county offices. constitutional and statutory duties of both positions. • Conducts inquests..
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