Q: When citizens are gathering petitions to call for a rollback election are there any restrictions on the use of county resources to create materials advocating the county’s position? What about after the rollback election has been called? Can you point me in the right direction for this?
Q: One of the city councils we cover came out of executive session after one hour behind closed doors. A member then made a motion “to discuss what was discussed” in executive session. Another member seconded the motion. The question was put to a vote. It passed unanimously. But curiously, there was no further discussion.
And to top it off, we asked for documents related to the matter and were told no such documents existed. However, as we eventually found out, the documents we requested did exist but we got them too late to include any details in our story.
Q: Our appraisal district board of directors met recently. The secretary of the board keeps resisting my requests for a copy of the minutes of the meeting. Aren’t the minutes public information?
Q: On the advance agenda for our next school board meeting “teachers salary scale” is listed as one of the topics of discussion in the meeting’s closed session. Isn’t salary scale a policy discussion that should be in open session?
Q: We have a new custodian of open records at the sheriff’s office and that person has reduced the information we get in dispatch logs to the bare minimum. We used to get so much more. What information should this new “gatekeeper” release to us?
Q: A veterans’ organization in town wants to advertise their bingo. I am somewhat familiar with the rules prohibiting raffle advertising but can’t find the relevant AG stance on bingo. Can you direct me to the specific law regarding advertising for bingo?
Top officials say state's top issues are resolved
AUSTIN — With the governor's mansion as their backdrop, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen on May 23 announced their agreement on the Texas Legislature's state budget, property tax reform and school finance reform bills.
Q: More than 100 qualified voters in our county signed a petition to create another emergency services district that includes their land.
Our county commissioners court approved the creation of the new district at a regular meeting and then a public hearing was conducted to get input from taxpayers.
In short, enough support was shown and county officials acted as required according to the process outlined in Health and Safety Code Chapter 775 (EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS) — until now.
Q: If a city council plans to meet with a state senator, does the meeting require a public notice?
Q: What potential issues lay ahead for me if I run for a local public office? If elected, I would prefer to continue in my roles as a weekly newspaper publisher, editor, photographer, ad salesperson, circulation manager, web poster and floor sweeper; also civic club member, band booster, church member, etc.