Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3491 by Zerwas (Relating to the creation, administration, powers, and duties of a county assistance district.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to authorize the creation of more than one county assistance district in a county and sets out procedures for creating more than one district. The bill would also amend statutes regarding powers, duties, operations, elections, and sales and use tax change of a county assistance district. Under current statute, if an election is held and the vote is against the creation of a district, another election may not be held prior to the first anniversary of the most recent election concerning the creation. Under the proposed change in statute, one or more election may be held, and the limit on when the election could be held would be removed.
Local Government Impact
Based on analysis provided from the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), the costs would vary by county depending on if an associated election coincides with other elections previously determined to take place in the county or if an election is held alone. As an example, TAC cited special election costs for Waller County at $20,920 and Kaufman County at $35,000. (Election costs vary depending not only on the type of election, but also on the number of eligible voters and number of precincts.)