It merely authorizes the application of the financial system and the governmental machinery already existing to the action authorized thereby. Austin Bros. makes clear that the legislature may not invoke article VIII, section 9, to withdraw from a particular county a method of financing county affairs that is conferred by general law. For example, counties may issue bonds for the construction, maintenance, and operation of roads. See also Tex. III, s 52.
Bonds issued by a county create indebtedness.
Article VIII, section 9, does not authorize local laws that would remove a county's authority to issue road bonds. Thus, to the extent that the general laws permit counties to create indebtedness against their road and bridge funds, a local law taking that power away from a particular county is constitutionally impermissible. Therefore, the prohibition on the creation of indebtedness in the Limestone County law is unconstitutional insofar as it would nullify any authority Limestone County has under the general laws to create indebtedness against the road and bridge found. It follows, then, that county commissioners cannot be subjected to civil and criminal penalties for voting to do something that they are authorized to do under the general laws. Moreover, we do not perceive how such penalties have any but the most remote connection with the construction and maintenance of roads.