2023 Texas Statutes › Vernon's Civil Statutes › Title 49 - Education--Public › Chapter 12 - County Unit System › Article 2740f-4. County Unit System in Counties of 10,339 to 10,540; Powers and Duties of Commissioners' Court › Section 1.

Section 1. This Act is applicable to counties with a population of not less than ten thousand, three hundred and thirty-nine (10,339) and not more than ten thousand, five hundred and forty (10,540), according to the latest Federal Census.  Any county coming within the terms of this Act shall have a County Unit System of Education to the extent specified in this Act.  For the purpose of levying, assessing, and collecting a school maintenance tax and for such further administrative functions as are set forth herein, the territory of each of such counties is hereby created into a school district, hereinafter described as the county-wide district, the taxing power to be exercised as hereinafter provided.  There shall be exercised in and for the entire territory of each of such counties, to the extent in this Act prescribed, the taxing power conferred on school districts by Article VII, Section 3 of the Constitution, but such taxing power shall not be exercised until and unless authorized by a majority of the qualified property taxpaying voters residing therein at an election to be held for that purpose as hereinafter provided.  Whenever a petition is presented to the County Judge of any such county, signed by at least one hundred (100) qualified property taxpaying voters residing therein, asking that an election be ordered for the purpose of determining whether or not a maintenance tax shall be levied, assessed, and collected on all taxable property within said county for the maintenance of public schools therein, not exceeding Twenty-five (25) Cents on the one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of taxable property, it shall be the duty of the County Judge, immediately, to order an election to be held within said county to detemine said question.  Notice of said election shall be given by publishing a copy of the election order in a newspaper of general circulation in said county once each week for at least two (2) weeks, the date of the first publication to be not less than twenty (20) days prior to the date fixed for holding said election.  Further notice shall be given by the posting of a copy of said election notice within the boundaries of each independent and each common school district, and one copy of said notice shall be posted at the courthouse door.  Said notice shall be posted at least twenty (20) days prior to the date fixed for said election.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the manner of holding said election shall be controlled by the General Election Laws of the State, and only resident, qualified property taxpaying voters shall be permitted to vote at said election.  Said election shall be held at the usual voting places in the several election precincts of such county.  Said election returns shall be made and delivered to the County Judge and shall be canvassed by the Commissioners Court of such county at its next regular or special meeting following said election.  A majority vote of those voting at said election shall be sufficient to carry said election.  The result of said election shall be recorded in the Minutes of the Commissioners Court and certified by the County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Commissioners Court to the County Superintendent or Ex Officio Superintendent of said county.