The Texas Supreme Court should grant Relator’s petition for mandamus because common law requires cities to adopt ballot language for a proposed ordinance that accurately identifies the measure’s chief features, character, and purpose. The municipal efficiency study is modeled on Ronald Reagan’s California Commission and Grace Commission, which sought to improve state government and federal government by conducting a thorough analysis of government operations and making specific efficiency and enhancement recommendations. By referring to the existing city and external auditors, and by including a speculative cost estimate, Austin affirmatively misrepresents the more comprehensive features, character, and purpose of the efficiency study. Accordingly, the Court should grant Relator’s petition for mandamus, and require Austin to adopt ballot language that complies with the common law standard.
Local Government
Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas
Texas’s rapidly growing population requires new infrastructure and improvements, which oftentimes come at great expense. To fund these projects, local officials often impose impact fees on new development—but their use comes at a cost. Key points: Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. As such, it has robust infrastructure requirements. To help finance capital...
August 12, 2026