Jump to:
1. Why Local Gov Matters | 2. San Antonio Municipal Government
3. Mayor/Council | 4. Bexar County
5. School Boards & Taxes
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THANK YOU TO THE SUMNERS FOUNDATION FOR UNDERWRITING LOCAL GOV 101 ONLINE CIVICS GUIDE AND VIDEO SERIES.
1. Why Local Gov Matters
When you hear the word “government”, you might first think of the big-picture decisions made at the federal level. Local government, which includes the state, county and city levels, makes choices that immediately affect all residents. This five-part series explains how local government in San Antonio and Bexar County is structured, how elected officials make policy decisions, and the various ways citizens can participate.
2. Local Gov: San Antonio Municipal Government
San Antonio and many other major Texas cities use the council-manager form of city government. Aimed at providing community representation, this form of government combines the political power of an elected body (the City Council) and the managerial expertise of a city manager. Along with the mayor, these offices comprise the administrative, legislative and ceremonial heads of the city government.
3. Local Gov: Mayor/Council
As the legislative head of San Antonio government, the City Council is responsible for making the most important policy decisions. To ensure diverse community representation, the 10 council districts each elect one representative. Elected at-large to represent the city as a whole, the mayor has many administrative duties, including setting the agenda for City Council meetings.
4. Local Gov: Bexar County
There are several elected officials at the county level. The county judge functions similarly to the mayor and works with the four elected members of the Commissioners Court to oversee various county-related decisions. The sheriff of Bexar County is the chief law enforcement officer in charge of county safety, while the district attorney represents the state of Texas in all criminal cases brought in the county.
5. Local Gov: School Boards & Taxes
Texas uses the independent school district model, in which school systems operate independently from municipal and county governments and are their own taxable area. Elected school boards in most of Bexar County’s school districts determine education policy, with meetings open to the public. Apart from federal taxes, San Antonians pay both state and local taxes that fund various municipal services.
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