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Bastiat & Liberty Watchdog Index
Texas Local Government Freedom Index
Objective, empirical rankings grading 6,167 Texas local governments and 31,351 elected officials on fiscal restraint, tax burden, private property rights, and regulatory overreach. Zero peer normalization.
Top Ranked Governments (Highest Liberty)
Showing 26–50 of 254 matching jurisdictions
28-Year Freedom & Budget Trend Benchmark (FY 2000 – FY 2027)
Cohort Average Across Visible Page (25 Ranked Entities)5-Yr Freedom Trend (FY 22→27)
▲ +1.0 pts
27-Yr Liberty Shift (FY 00→27)
▲ +0.6 pts
Annual Budget Growth (YoY)
+3.5% YoY
5-Yr Budget Expansion
+21.9% (CAGR +3.5%/yr)
#26
San Augustine County
COUNTY • San Augustine County • Pop: 8,112
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.32357Fiscal: 80.6Regulatory: 83.7Debt: 92.7▲ +0.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.5% YoY (+20.0% 5Y)
Grade A(84.7/100)
#27
Hopkins County
COUNTY • Hopkins County • Pop: 34,440
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.332596Fiscal: 80Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 88.9▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.4% YoY (+23.1% 5Y)
Grade A(84.5/100)
#28
Hansford County
COUNTY • Hansford County • Pop: 3,991
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.451241Fiscal: 72.9Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.8% YoY (+16.0% 5Y)
Grade A(84.5/100)
#29
Nueces County
COUNTY • Nueces County • Pop: 289,680
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.299366Fiscal: 82Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 84.6▼ -0.1 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.7% YoY (+24.8% 5Y)
Grade A(84.3/100)
#30
Concho County
COUNTY • Concho County • Pop: 2,341
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.453061Fiscal: 72.8Regulatory: 86Debt: 100▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.0% YoY (+30.3% 5Y)
Grade A(84.2/100)
#31
Lamar County
COUNTY • Lamar County • Pop: 44,645
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2998Fiscal: 82Regulatory: 81.1Debt: 92▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.3% YoY (+22.4% 5Y)
Grade A(84.2/100)
#32
Washington County
COUNTY • Washington County • Pop: 34,852
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.4367Fiscal: 73.8Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 96.9▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (+47.6% 5Y)
Grade A(84.1/100)
#33
Loving County
COUNTY • Loving County • Pop: 203
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.472011Fiscal: 71.7Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.0% YoY (+27.8% 5Y)
Grade A(84/100)
#34
Leon County
COUNTY • Leon County • Pop: 17,068
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.415942Fiscal: 75Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 94.4▲ +0.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.0% YoY (+26.1% 5Y)
Grade A(83.9/100)
#35
Rockwall County
COUNTY • Rockwall County • Pop: 123,513
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2595Fiscal: 84.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 79.4▼ -0.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.3% YoY (+20.3% 5Y)
Grade A(83.9/100)
#36
Oldham County
COUNTY • Oldham County • Pop: 1,858
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.4700Fiscal: 71.8Regulatory: 86Debt: 100▲ +1.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.0% YoY (+32.8% 5Y)
Grade A(83.8/100)
#37
Gillespie County
COUNTY • Gillespie County • Pop: 29,720
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2770Fiscal: 83.4Regulatory: 79.1Debt: 90.1▲ +0.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.2% YoY (+20.8% 5Y)
Grade A(83.6/100)
#38
Bosque County
COUNTY • Bosque County • Pop: 18,301
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.3227Fiscal: 80.6Regulatory: 84.1Debt: 87.8▲ +0.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.7% YoY (+23.9% 5Y)
Grade A(83.6/100)
#39
Wilson County
COUNTY • Wilson County • Pop: 53,954
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.424932Fiscal: 74.5Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 93.6▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.9% YoY (+21.6% 5Y)
Grade A(83.5/100)
#40
Wilbarger County
COUNTY • Wilbarger County • Pop: 11,079
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.493176Fiscal: 70.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.5% YoY (+22.6% 5Y)
Grade A(83.5/100)
#41
San Saba County
COUNTY • San Saba County • Pop: 5,088
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.4970Fiscal: 70.2Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.0% YoY (+29.8% 5Y)
Grade A(83.4/100)
#42
Cherokee County
COUNTY • Cherokee County • Pop: 43,681
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.4950Fiscal: 70.3Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +5.5% YoY (+22.6% 5Y)
Grade A(83.4/100)
#43
Sherman County
COUNTY • Sherman County • Pop: 1,817
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.502268Fiscal: 69.9Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.8% YoY (+19.9% 5Y)
Grade A(83.3/100)
#44
Cass County
COUNTY • Cass County • Pop: 29,255
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.443809Fiscal: 73.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 94.5▲ +0.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +4.1% YoY (+24.9% 5Y)
Grade A(83.3/100)
#45
Navarro County
COUNTY • Navarro County • Pop: 45,735
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.417182Fiscal: 75Regulatory: 85.4Debt: 93.6▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (+19.2% 5Y)
Grade A(83.3/100)
#46
Wood County
COUNTY • Wood County • Pop: 48,344
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.4695Fiscal: 71.8Regulatory: 84.1Debt: 100▲ +1.7 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.2% YoY (+18.9% 5Y)
Grade A(83.2/100)
#47
Hardin County
COUNTY • Hardin County • Pop: 58,932
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.481223Fiscal: 71.1Regulatory: 86Debt: 98▲ +2.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.1% YoY (-2.4% 5Y)
Grade A(83/100)
#48
Jack County
COUNTY • Jack County • Pop: 7,860
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.436571Fiscal: 73.8Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 92.8▲ +1.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (-3.7% 5Y)
Grade A(83/100)
#49
Upshur County
COUNTY • Upshur County • Pop: 41,546
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.518626Fiscal: 68.9Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.7 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.6% YoY (+23.0% 5Y)
Grade A(82.9/100)
#50
Nacogdoches County
COUNTY • Nacogdoches County • Pop: 53,118
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.42656Fiscal: 74.4Regulatory: 81.9Debt: 98▲ +1.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (+15.3% 5Y)
Grade A(82.9/100)