BWH H.B. 2083 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


COUNTY AFFAIRS
H.B. 2083
By: Hilderbran
3-26-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

 Currently, two or more counties may choose to jointly employ and
compensate one county auditor.  In such a situation, each county involved
must have a population of less than 25,000 people.  The decision to employ
a joint county auditor must be made by the commissioners courts of each
county.  Employing a joint county auditor saves each county money,
emphasizes cooperation between counties, and creates uniform budgetary
standards within judicial districts.   
 For example, Burnet and Llano Counties employ one county auditor, as do
Kerr and Bandera Counties.  These counties, however, are growing at such a
rate that one of the counties may soon surpass 25,000 residents.  
 Removing the 25,000 person population limit will allow two or more
counties that can be adequately served by one auditor to continue to do
so, despite growth in the population of one or both of the counties.  The
decision still rests with the commissioners courts of each county to
determine whether employing a joint county auditor is feasible.   

PURPOSE

The purpose of this legislation is to remove the population limit on
counties that decide to jointly employ and compensate a county auditor. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 84.008(a) of the Local Government Code by:
 1) Providing the this section does not apply to an auditor appointed in a
county with a population of two million or more; and 
 2) Removes the requirement that counties who employ a joint auditor each
have a population of less than 25,000 people. 
 
SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.