The 254 counties in Texas are extensions of state government. Where municipal government may have any and all authority it may devise as long as not specifically prohibited by state or federal law, county government may claim only that authority specifically granted by state law. The specific grants of authority and responsibility by the State of Texas to its county governments fall in roughly four service categories:
- Courts
- Jails and Law Enforcement
- Land Use and Roads
- Health and Human Services
In addition to these four service categories, county government has substantial administrative functions such as conducting elections and collecting fees and taxes which it performs on behalf of multiple governmental entities in the region and the State.
The Travis County Commissioners Court is the chief executive overseeing the service and administrative operations of county government. Those operations include more than 4,000 employees and 48 separate elected officials. See Travis County Archives website for a listing of current elected officials. Much like any chief executive, the Commissioners Court sets policy and budget priorities for the efficient operation of county services in consultation with the other 43 elected officials involved in the delivery of those services.
The following is a brief and therefore incomplete overview of the various divisions of county government. Although they are listed by the four categories detailed above, these divisions have considerable overlapping functions.
Courts
County government is responsible for providing Justice of the Peace, County Courts, District Courts, Probate Courts and all support services required by the judiciary and prosecuting attorneys operating in these courts. These divisions of county government include but are not limited to:
- Judges
- Constables
- County Attorneys and District Attorneys
- Various Public Defender offices
- District Clerks and County Clerks
- Probation services
- Bailiffs, security and other support staff.
Jails & Law Enforcement
County government is responsible for providing a county jail to house residents accused of or serving sentences for misdemeanors and felonies adjudicated in our courts and all support services required by the courts and the Sheriff to maintain jail operations. Counties may also elect to provide a police force. These divisions of county government include but are not limited to:
- Sheriff’s Corrections Department
- Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Department including patrol and detectives
- County Attorney and District Attorney investigators
- County Attorney civil support
Land Use and Roads
Unlike municipalities which have zoning authority and provide infrastructure such as water and electric utilities, the land use authority and infrastructure capabilities of counties are limited. Although counties are charged with reviewing subdivision and various other land-use permits, the discretion to reject these permits is tightly circumscribed by state law. For instance counties are explicitly prohibited from regulating the size or use of improvements or the density or impervious cover on land in the county. Counties are authorized to provide roads. Any other infrastructure is usually beyond the statutory authority and funding limitations of counties. With the increased urbanization outside of city limits, narrow constraints on county authority are increasingly problematic. The divisions of county government executing and supporting these responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Transportation and Natural Resources Department
- County Attorney’s Office
- Travis County Fire Marshall
Health & Human Services
County government has little explicit authority from the State to provide health and human services. However, the implicit authority and the need for such services has grown considerably with the increased urbanization of the State as well as decreased State funding levels. The divisions of county government providing these services cut across all lines including but not limited to:
- The Health and Human Services Department
- The Emergency Services Department
- Civil and Criminal Courts
- The Sheriff’s Corrections and Law Enforcement Departments
- The District and County Attorneys’ Offices
