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.
Assessing Tax Trends in Denton County
Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in Denton County? And, if so, have local decision-makers actively helped or hurt the situation? To help answer these questions, let’s review the county’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and gather four types of data—i.e., tax levies, local population, total tax rates, and taxable values—over a 10-year time horizon....