Honorable Mike Jackson, Chair, Senate Committee on Economic Development
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB520 by Hegar (Relating to the creation, administration, powers, and duties of a county assistance district.), As Introduced
No significant 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 also would 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 elections may be held, and the limit on when the election could be held would be removed.
The bill would repeal Section 387.010(d) of the Local Government Code.
Local Government Impact
There could be a significant fiscal impact to a county to hold more than one election, but the amounts would vary depending on whether the election coincides with another election or is held alone; the number of elections held; the type of election; and the number of eligible voters and precincts.
Based on costs reported to the Secretary of State (SOS) in 2010 by a sampling of counties, municipalities, and special districts, the average cost incurred by a local government entity for an election is $1.98 per registered voter. According to 2010 data from the SOS, there are an estimated 93.6 million registered voters in Texas. The election cost per local government would vary depending on the number of registered voters in each locality. If a special election were to be held on the general election date, the local government would experience an increase in costs that would not likely be significant because the state pays the majority of the costs. However, if a special election were to be held on a uniform election date other than the general election date, the local government would incur the full costs associated with conducting the special election (pay to election workers, fees for the use of polling locations, publishing notices, and printing ballots).