The purpose of this review is to identify opportunities to improve the performance of Smith County on behalf of its customers — the taxpayers. In the course of the review, issues of superior performance are also analyzed with the intention of encouraging replication in similar public agencies. Finally, an opportunity analysis evaluates results both in relation to internally established objectives and externally established public purposes, both implicit and explicit. The underlying question addressed by the opportunity analysis is “how good is the public agency compared to what it could be?”
Local Government
Examining Local Government Spending Trends From 2014 to 2023
City and county spending has outpaced growth in population and inflation, leading to an increase in the tax burden on Texan taxpayers. Key points: Local government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. From 2014 to 2023, local government spending rose by 61.2%, whereas population and inflation increased by only 42.7%. Elevated...
March 6, 2026