The county commissioner is an elected official from the county in which they live. Each county is split into four different regions and a commissioner is elected from each region to represent that part of the county. The commissioners serve alongside the County Judge to make county policies. As a group, the Commissioners and County Judge are the chief policy-making and administrative branch of county government.
The Texas Constitution specifies that the Commissioner's Court is the governing body of the County and is to carry out the administrative and judicial responsibilities for the state.
Among other responsibilities, the commissioners court:
- Sets the yearly property tax rate.Adopts a county budget and approves the budget and employment level for the county.
- Sets employment and benefit policy.
- Sets commissioners and justice of the peace precinct boundaries.
- Calls, conducts and certifies elections, including bond elections.
- Reviews and approve subdivision platting and wastewater treatment for rural areas.
- Provides rural ambulance services and subsidizes rural fire protection.
- Oversees the construction, maintenance and improvement of county roads and bridges.
- Appoints non-elected department heads and standing committees.
- Supervises and controls the county courthouse, county buildings and facilities.
- Fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions.
- Has exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the county.