According to Texas Almanac, it is estimated that there are more than 3,000 unincorporated towns within the state of Texas (Texas Almanac, n.d.). An unincorporated town “does not have a local government,” but exist “by tradition,” and “typically do not have elected officials at the town level” (Rampage, 2021). Furthermore, unincorporated areas “are not part of a city,” as “the county has authority for law enforcement and road maintenance. Their local ordinances, rules, and police regulations are usually
codified” (OER Commons, n.d.).
Tracking Local Government Debt in Texas: 2016 – 2025
Local governments in Texas have accumulated excessive public debt. Strict reforms are necessary to restore fiscal discipline. Key points: In fiscal year 2025, local government borrowing reached nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest, which is $17,706 in debt per capita. From 2016 to 2025, total local debt rose from $331.8 billion to $561...