Case Information

*1 OFFICE OF THE A?TORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS

AUSTIN

Eon. Roloa I#. eawll County Attorney

win Couutt

lbOltu?, hur

wo aI% la rroolpt

ion upon tho iollori~g QUO

pat to; tla oon8tnm- at fund of tha Count7 loos1 M~tlonal md tha other *2 719 Hon. Boloa L. Sowll, PII@ t UiOOO WiththO Cap- m pWniOUWhiOh

mi.alonu. hurt is whather or not uand*r t&a frota aa a bull~lng oont#m- plated la of Artids within the waning

tho Conat itut ion of the Stats 0s Taxas tn an irs0ort t0 aaoor- Oourt luy tala whether the OodaaloneVa hproranunt xp.116 momy. from the ~rmaaent tin4 ior this parpoeerg Bsotiw s 0f Prti0iO 8 or th0 ~sm0 c058tiw reada aa followar tlon

7ha State tax on pro~art7 xoloalra of tax noo~sauy to par the ptlblio debt, and the taxes provided tar the be-tit OS the of the ah11 notat xow4 publia free ohoola, thlrtp rfw 0OOt0 M t* 000 hue04 dou.0r0 +0hOti00) an& no oOunty olty or tom shall lary more oenta tar oltf 0x oonnty pur- than trdprfw p oaoa, an4 not l rcaoaing tliteon cantr r0r roads end aot axoeadln& fiiteon oemta and bri&pa, pa7 jlpzwa, on the one hilPdro4 dollars oxaapt the pa~unt of dobta valuation, inourrab prior to the adoption o? tha aman&mnt 8eptamber88th,lm8) and~for tho'orootloa of publ%e bull6lng0, streets, aewra, water works sol otlmr pumanont lmpro~eamntr, not to uoeod hmnty-rlro oanta on tha OM hun4nl &oUur Tal!lrtloa, &n aBy 030 pu, ana l xo o pt aa lm ID thl8 Ooaatltutlon othanln prorlde4g a& uy alao authorize an ad&ltlon= Loglalaturo ml annual a& talo~a~ tax to h lorio and 8alntenanoa af tar tha further that a mJorlt7 OS publla ronar; provlbd,

qualifld proparty tax-paying rotor8 ot oountr rotin at an leotioa to be hola tor that purpoao shall rote ouch tax, not to excso4 tlftea oaata cm tlw one hoadrrl&ollus value tlon or tka groprrty mubleot to taxation in ooh oorznt i ISa Uglirlatare ma pa.8 looal t ia pabl a il roda law. tar malnnknanoe ef tb rlthmt thr looal aotloo nqnlro4

orlooallm.~

Eon. Holen 1. 80~11, Pa4e 8 SSbl, Vemoa’O Annotated Civil Statutes,

Artlolo set8 forth powr dutl oi tho oounty followlag odaaloaua~ omuta - -

l +t* In npalr oourthowa8, 7. Prorldo end keep Jaila aud al1.nfooaaary ?ubljo buildings &b em innotated Clvll statutes,

Artlalo 2b52, Vatnon~a refers to the tax for woqBctlon oi publfo bolldinga~ by tho oouaty oomrLaalonar~ oourtl oourt ahsr/r hero power to 10~

Wail a tax”?or oouaty purpoau, not to end oollaot cents on the one huadred exceed trentr-five lollers valumtlon, end a tax not to exceed fifteen oonta 011 the one hundred dollars ralu- fand ot tho oouaty, atlon to aupplament jury osata for roeda and and aot jroeed fifteen bridges on tha one hundred 6ollara valuation, xoaDt for payment of debts lnaurred prior the~adoptlon of the amendment the fkmtl-

tutlaa, E@tamber 25, A. 0. 1883, end for the atraa to, mwra, ractlon.oS pub110 bulldin@, rat8x IO- and other pumanent iaprovomeata, eU twentpflte lara. valuation in oemta on the one on0 year, aa o herwfea prod& Constitution '"I

XI the levr an l bdltlonal tax for roe6 purpose8 not to exceed flitam oanta on property

one hu.n&o& &ollu valaatioa mbJoet to texatloa. uulor limltationa and la &a manuu prwl~ad for in Art1010 8. Sea. 9. of tha f&mat ltutlon and In pprsuance or -tti - tlmr*to,* 16ua relating

The Texts8 Conatltutloa, 8; sttotlon l8, Artlole prorldoar & + Tha ount~~omrdaaionera so ohoam,

rith the oount~ judm, a8 peal6lng ofrloar,

shall oamseaa the *au&~ o5mlarlonua~ oorat.

Eon. Noloa 1. Sowll, Pa@ 4

by this Omatltutloa and tha laws of tha

State, as mar bo horoattor proaorlbo4.w

Art1010 1603, Betlwd Civil statutoa, 102!5, reads an follwar

V&o ootmty ommlaalonets* ootut of aaoh aounty, as soon as praatloablo attor the OS- of a oounty aaat, aftor lt0 tabllahmont remora1 ?roa oua plaoo to anothu, shall pro- rids a oourt hou6o jell for oounty. oountf irtloera

and oiilcoa e auoh oGi.ntf ZTtMbpfho east0 in 6ood repsIF

~uaaorlng oural.

The flrat aentonoo Art1010 1605. Tunon*a Annotated Olril Statute;a, provldoat

Vho County Judga, Shorlft, Clerks of tho and of tho Countr Ooux-ta, County Dlatrlot

Treaaaror, Aaaaasor asvl Colleotor of Faxoa,

County Surveyor Count7 AttOmOy of aororal aountlos of this atate, ahall keep

th6lr offloaa oounty *oats 0s tholr at provided, ta. + l l roapootlto oountlaa; 1968, ulliols OTI, Rarloa4 Civil Statutes, madr as follon: 8herlffa ahalL havo ohorgs an4 OOntrc+l

.0r the oOurthouOo0 0s tholr raapotlte ocmn- tlos subpot moh rogalatlona as tha aaa- mla abno ra l ourt MT praaorfba~ and tho offlolal bead shall ostond and lnoluda talthful their duties under this artlolo.* pufonmnoe ocurta hue no powra or Countf ooaudaaionora* duties oxcopt those whloh aro olaarly set forth an6 da- fined in the Ceaatltution and atatutos. LDBARS% CWXR T. JzLaaNo8 8s B. 1. 886t HOORE v. H3dm.Nm coumf e7a 8. T. 478; iL PA80 COUHTT t. XLAM, lob 83. ctd) SQb. 7ha statutes hava loarly Uoflnad tb tbserlbd the dutloa, and kpoaol

E%:rtP 0s aommlsaloncra~ oourt, tha

Hon. Bolan L. Sowll, Peg0 5

mdlus through uhloh tho Ufforont oountloa

aot, from thoso atatotas slat oam all uthorlty in the Oountloa.g rested

Tn. JUN. 54s.

Tram the oonatltutlonel provialona of the atat- utoa quoted ebovo, wo hare aeon that the ooenty eords- fonara* court he8 tha powor (1) to prod&e mid koop (2) to provldo in repair ell nooeasaw publfa buildings; at tha oountr *o&i for oounty orrloera (3) to offlcea xorolao juriadlotlon over all countr burlnose. It has been well-aatebllohed juriadlo- that tion of oami6alonera* court3 la limited to atrlotly aoounty bualno6am I ead tha Loglaloturo her no aathorltl their powers jurladiotion. to enlarge SU? VAI;OB ELWTRIC LIOFiT CO. vs. ICG~XFi, 88 Tex. 197, 96 8. W.

866.

cOStStNh& s6OtiO5 ^[9] Or tit:010 0 Of #a *MS Conatltutlon and Seotlon 7 oi ArtI 2351 aupra, in oonjunotlon with all the other atotutea refatlag to the powore of the ooanty oodeslonera~ oourt amI in tho light of the neoessltjr of the court aetlng withla oonlerred upon it, sphere of its power8 and duties it la our opinion that pub110 buildings mean l neoeasary pub110 build1 au that %oooaaar~.-pub118 bulldlngs* mea pub110 bn “ff ldln&$a eeantial for .tho eonduct of atriotly woounty buainesaa; and when mr02ag to office it means pub118 buildings aaantlal houa- buildinga, agonolos. of oountf orrioora log- tha offloea Wo bellova that propoaa4 bulldin d:ao~bee in pur lotte? of roquoat la *publie bull4 &(I

broa4oat aanae 0s tbs term. Se0 Opinion lfro. 6-1647 0s thla Qopartmont by Hon. &doll ~llllaam, A8alat8nt Attu- .Ffon. Stonlaj TiamiIiO, Oounty Attorna soy Qeaoral, of publio bu i id- lierrlaon Co-t oontalnlng dorlaltlons la a public building ao- But w i' o not bellovo ing8. lt cosaazy for tha purposes of eountr bualnasa wlthia ~UXT~OW 0f seation 0s k.rtioloa ES81 as4 X+08.

xn l coo~moo with tb 0-t doelalons of thla and rapoatodl~ mlea that atat6, m4 hero oonalatontl~

723 Hon. X01.8 1. &lmll, P*go 6

OouIe~ oom8iMlomr8' oourtr ray not lO@l~ rprnd or l p p r o p riatr oountr for purpo8*r uaauthorIse6 by fund8 of rtatufq 1~. th8 Can0tltution

to? l ‘IQp91@, Opinion Ilo. O-691 of thir 4qart- &8nt hold that th@ 001d8810a828’ ocmrt of tilT88tOa f8Xa8, M8 without nthorltr to bqwnd oountr COUnty, ?UZI~~ for th8 ~plOJas&iti Of iif* maTa for thh8tOn Beaoh; 0 lnlm lo. O-1086 of thlr bpartmamt hold tht wan oourt of b?arIon County, hur, th8 0 08J 88ioaOr8* to par tha ralary without authorIt of a gann wardoat Opinion Ho. 0-1290 of thl8 d8partn8nt h8ld that ootlrt of Boxar COule~, oomiQi88ioner8’ -X88, *aI ‘with- rh protea- out 8uthoritr to rxpond oountp ror run68 tiOn Of ~OTtiOIU Of t& OOWlt~ Ifling OUt8i48 Of t&a Olty the oounty oould not oontraot of 881.1 Mtonlo, an4 that with th8 oity of San Antcaio to furnirh ruoh fir0 pro- teotlon ror ruoh portiona the oountyi ad OpInIoa of thir d8partn8nt that th8 oaami88lomr8* Ao. held ooitrt oculd not lagally make dOaatiOa8 to tha Tlderouloaim Association, any oth8r oharItabl8 to the Amerloan lilatlonal B8d 12088 or to

organization making nque8t for auoh bonationr, anb Opinion Ro. O-1999 holding that oounty oonmi88ionerr* oourt doe8 not hare the cuthority to puroham a 8lt.e for a donation to the Unitd Btatea Qot8rnmmt for purporer of 8 military re8onatlon, ud opinion 80. O-U60 holding that od88hBorV ootantr to nab a PonatIM of #S,500.00 oourt 18 aot authorized towed thm puroh880 prloo Of 8 ttsOt of lad t0 b owd othu: plblio (kaml Unit, fair8 ior Hatlonal oelobratloru oounty of poreharr prloe aad whom the balmo* .8ub8aquont 8rpwi8oa mill be pal& by ttn city. all T h e l xpmdltun ppropriatIon o? 0-t I fundr tar an ofrloe building larger md norm oamod 011s th* MOO88fti88 Of 8tdOtlr bU8bl.88 rollI& than OOlUity denan aad purpow TOIltill6 spa008 in thlr to nm4ountp ag8aOfe8 oa a profit buildlag ratld ba8ir of a oounty ooriml~Ioaerr~ Wmg 8x00~8 of th8 authority . X0 arm not oalled ‘upon to anmar lm thla opln-

Ion qyrrtion of rlmthar or not a Oorutt~ Oanmi88iO~r8’ ocprt ha8 the powm ati mthoritr lease 0rri000 in the eamt~ oourthouw or a rounty building to noa-oounty federal 8tato Nch a8 gOnrtUa4nt81 8geBoiO8 Idt8 *7 Ha. iol*a L. Senll, Pago 7 thm AgrIoUltural hdJu8tm0at Admlnl8tratIon 8nd tin 28x68 Quard, and rhathar or not tha oountf oaumi8-

letIon elcm8r8* oorvt oan enter 0r 1008ing oauntv tb0 burln088 proporty gonaralllr. sea la tht8 rr8peot Opinion Ilo. O-178 br Honorable Eon Yoodall, Attorner mn- A88irtmt l ml, to Honorable Ldgar Z. Pama, Countr Attormr, oplnIoa dated April Hookle County, L8v8lland, Tour; by Attorn. Qononl B. P. Loomy It, l&, to Eonorablr J. J. Strloklmd County Attom8r. Palortlne Texar AttOrnOy bnOrl1 191~lb168 & Report8 8nd OpdOn8 Dodron f. Yarrhall, u8 8. 'II. (2d) 621. In thir OOM~O- 18 called tioll 6ttMtioll 23120-8, TernOn' t0 IrtiOl0 Asnotat8& airi StatUte8, authoritln6 th8 OOU.atJ O&l- to 10a80, rent or provldr 0rri00 8p606 8iOMr8’ oourt or unomplopmnt relior and mm. for thm 6mlnl8tr8tIon 69opecUm with Stat8 and To&oral r8liOf l getiolrrl and &%iOh 5888, Ternon~8 Annotated Civil

izing the 8ormni88iOner8' OOtUt and Oitp to pproprIat6 mlsrlon non108 to p8~ noo888ary xpon808 of thr Eational kard Unit8 loaatad in tholr ronrpeotln an& In or near their n8peotIto oauatlrr oltIOa or town8 traots lon4 or Aatlonal donate for oon8truotion Guard Amorlor and building8 PM of Hatlonel Chard UDit8. to tha pomr or

Ii* hmo lImIted our opinion OCUEtr 0~88iOXMrO' OOti t0 OOn8tr9Ot a buil&Ing for the purpO886 am8rated In your letter roquwt.

ft am opinion, ad you am 80 l dTi8ed that th8 oOn8truOtiOn br 8ountr OaP3lri88iOllOr8' OOU& of a ballding to hama Tfsriour &Ywrmmatal agonoI~8 8rrrP looal 0rri00 0r th8 a8 00uat7 8g0at.8 0fri08, tb lOOa kttory Agrioulture &d6bi6tl'8tiOn, AdjU6thWt of Texar Batlanal Quard, and other gov8rwatal gMOf88-itOt oonnsot8d with th oOuatr rtriotir OOuatr bU8hl888, with tb object Of O?lhOting rontalr fra raid 1686608 di8Oharging indabbOdne88 0gaia8t tbi8 propomd building, WOW not bo tba oreotlon of a noo88- rary mbllo bull&& tba oont8mlatIon of hrtiola within 8, Saotlon 9 rR the Taxar *utitutIoa aad Seotlon T of lutlole 8S51 Y4noa*r Annot8ted Civil Btatater, aab thr ropntr O08&88I0~8r8~ oOtUt ha8 a0 OOn.etitutiOnal orPloP oounty rtatutory authority fund8 for notion OS moh a building.

boa. lolar L. @well, Pago l