What the Commissioners Court decides

What does the Commissioners Court decide? (DRAFT – not published)

In short

The Commissioners Court runs the county. It has five members: the county judge and four commissioners, one from each part (“precinct”) of the county. All five are elected for four years.¹ The court adopts the budget, sets the county tax rate, approves big contracts and decides on most county loans.²³⁴ It is not a court for trials.

The 30-second version

• Five votes. The county judge leads the meetings and votes. Each commissioner is elected by one precinct.¹
• Budget and tax rate. The court holds a public hearing, adopts the budget and sets the tax rate. It may tax only in line with the budget.⁵³
• Contracts. Most purchases over $100,000 must go out for bids or proposals. The court awards them.⁴
• Loans. Voters approve bonds. The court can sell tax notes on its own.⁶ See county debt explained.

What the court decides

Topic	What the court does	Limits on it
Budget	Hears the public, then adopts it. Can make changes.	Must spend only as the budget says, except in an emergency.5
Tax rate	Sets the county rate each year.	A rate above the “voter-approval rate” needs an election.3
Big purchases	Awards contracts over $100,000 to the “lowest and best” bid.	Some items are exempt, such as land, right of way and professional services.4
Contract changes	Approves changes. Can let staff approve changes of $50,000 or less.	The price can’t go up more than 25% in most cases.4
Loans	Calls bond elections; sells tax notes and certificates of obligation.	Tax notes must be paid off within 7 years.6
Empty offices	Fills some empty elected seats until the next election, such as county judge, sheriff or county clerk.	The person serves only until voters choose.1

Example: in July 2026 the court picked a new county tax assessor-collector after the last one quit. See tax assessor collector.

Who checks the court

• The county auditor. Appointed by the district judges, not the court. The auditor projects revenue and checks bills before they are paid.⁵
• District courts. State law gives district courts oversight of the Commissioners Court.¹
• Voters. All five members face voters every four years. A tax rate above the voter-approval rate goes to voters.³
• Taxpayers. Any county property taxpayer can go to court to stop a contract made without the required bids.⁴

The other side

• Much of the work is set by state law. The court must run jails, courts and roads. It has less choice than a city council about what to pay for.⁵

Questions to ask

• How often does the court pull items for a separate vote, and where is that recorded?
• Where is the policy listing what staff can approve without a court vote?

Changes to this page

• Nov. 2, 2026: Revised the questions to ask after a second review.
• Nov. 2, 2026: Added questions to ask.
• Nov. 2, 2026: We cut an other-side point that had no source.

What you can do or watch next

• Read the agenda before each Tuesday meeting.
• You can speak during public comment or contact your commissioner.
• See county budget basics for how the money is spent.

What we still don’t know

• How often the court pulls items for a separate vote. We have not counted this yet.
• The exact list of items staff can approve without a court vote. That is in county policy on the county’s website, which we do not use right now.

Footnotes

1. Texas Constitution, art. V, §18(b) (four commissioners, county judge presides, four-year terms), §8 (district court oversight), §§23, 28 and 20 (court fills empty sheriff, county judge and county clerk seats). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. Texas Local Government Code ch. 111 (county budget), as described in the county’s FY2025 annual report. ↩

3. Texas Comptroller, “Truth-in-Taxation” (Tax Code §§26.04, 26.05, 26.07). https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/truth-in-taxation/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. Texas Local Government Code ch. 262: §262.023 (over $100,000 needs bids or proposals), §262.024 (exemptions), §262.027 (lowest and best bid), §262.031 (change orders: $50,000 staff limit, 25% cap), §262.033 (taxpayer suit). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.262.htm ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

5. Williamson County FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, letter of transmittal (saved copy): budget officer, public hearing, spending only as budgeted, county auditor’s role. Public copy: https://emma.msrb.org/P11938140.pdf (MSRB EMMA; same report). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. Texas Government Code §§1431.002, 1431.009. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.1431.htm ↩ ↩²