Each Texas county – no matter how large or small – has four Commissioners, sometimes called “Precinct Commissioners.”  

Together with the County Judge, the four commissioners make up the Commissioners Court, the governing body for the county.

County Commissioners are elected from precincts that are drawn so that each has roughly one quarter of the county’s population. The County Judge - more of a chief administrative officer than a traditional “judge” in most large counties, including Hays - is elected county-wide.

Commissioners have certain absolute rights and responsibilities in their respective precincts, where they directly manage some county programs. But most of their authority comes from – and on – the Commissioners Court. The Court sets overall county policy, establishes a tax rate, and delegates members to oversee various initiatives.

More than a dozen department heads in Hays County report directly to the Commissioners Court - the exact number slides up and down, according to re-organizations and changing circumstance. Many other departments - tax assessor, sheriff’s office - report directly to elected officials, but it is the Commissioners Court that sets the budget for the office.

The Court and its staff also administer various state programs and represent the county in regional planning councils and negotiations.

In rare instances, the Court performs specialized judicial functions. It has direct administrative responsibility. And it operates as the county’s legislative body.

Texas counties have a complex system of checks and balances, involving many different elected officials and independent auditors appointed by district judges. Members of the Commissioners Court are unique in that they have duties in all three branches of government: judicial, executive, and legislative.

County Commissioners serve four-year terms. The Precinct 2 is seat is filled by general election in gubernatorial election years, along with the Precinct 4 seat and the County Judge. Precincts 1 and 3 are filled in presidential election years.

Commissioners must declare a party preference on the ballot, and so typically stand for election in both a party primary and in the November general election.

The Texas system grew up as a hybrid, influenced by ancient Mexican and English legal custom, and by the civil strife of post Civil War Reconstruction in Texas.

There is no absolute job description for County Commissioner. Many duties are set out by law or the State Constitution, but others are custom and vary considerably depending on the size, location and structure of the county – and the tastes, philosophy and ambition of the individual commissioner. Though it has long been a paid position, historically Hays County Commissioners – like most commissioners around the state – worked part-time and maintained their previous jobs in addition to their county work. That has changed in recent years, as rapid population growth and the changing demands of being commissioner have pushed most urban and, often, even suburban, commissioners around the state toward long hours on the job.  Today, all four commissioners in Hays County treat their county post as their primary job; some of us maintain ties to a previous profession or company on the side.

Below are excerpts about county government in general, and county commissioners in particular, from the National Association of Counties website:

How are counties managed?
The governing officials in each county are elected either by district or at large by popular vote of the citizens.  Although county commissioner is by far the most common title of these officials, many states call them many things.  Such as:
Mayors (AK)
Supervisors (AZ, CA, IA, MS, NE, NY, VA, WI, WV)
Councilors (DE, IN, MA, NM, TN, WA)
Justices of the Peace (AR, KY)
Judges (KY)
Police Jurors (LA)
Freeholders (NJ)

What does it take to be a county commissioner?
In most states, the law requires that the candidate must have resided in the county for a set period of time, usually at least 12 months, and be at least 21 years of age.
Another requirement in many states is that the individual has not been convicted of any crimes.

What kind of experience is best for a county commissioner?
County commissioners come from all walks of life.  They can be teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors, business people, farmers and homemakers… There is no best experience for elected office, but any experience that may have provided knowledge about finance, budgeting, communications, law and personnel is beneficial. In Central Texas, in my opinion, exposure to transportation, water, and growth issues is highly beneficial as well

How does a county commissioner learn to do the job?
Many states now make training available to newly elected officials.  Many state universities have governmental training institutes that officials can attend.  Some states require newly elected officials to attend training for a required period; others offer certification for training completion.  Texas requires a minimum 16 hours of certified Continuing Education each year for County Commissioners.

What issues are currently facing commissioners?
Routinely, commissioners are faced with the task of raising sufficient revenue to run the government and provide the services expected by their constituents.  Taxes and fees are the most common way that governments raise revenue and increases are not generally popular with citizens.  An effective commissioner educates citizens about the need for increases to continue service delivery as they expect and to maintain the quality of life in the county.

Mandates and the devolution of responsibilities from other levels of government are an ongoing concern for county elected officials. Federal legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Welfare Reform Act and the National Voting Rights Act (Motor Voter) have placed major responsibilities at the county level, with little or no financial assistance.

In Central Texas, regional efforts to plan for water availability, transportation, environmental preservation, land use management and rapid population growth take up much of a Commissioner’s time – in addition to much more localized neighborhood concerns about drainage, traffic, speeding, public health, and so on.