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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.

Cities & Municipalities (1,218)Counties (254)School Districts (1,252)Special Districts (3,443)Elected Officials (31,351)

Top Ranked Governments (Highest Liberty)

Showing 51–75 of 1,218 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)
▲ +2.9 pts
Annual Budget Growth (YoY)
+2.1% YoY
5-Yr Budget Expansion
+18.6% (CAGR +2.7%/yr)
#51
Town of Sanford
CITY • Hutchinson County • Pop: 129
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.188162Fiscal: 88.7Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.7% YoY (+14.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.8/100)
#52
City of Goldsmith
CITY • Ector County • Pop: 235
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.191762Fiscal: 88.5Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +0.7 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.6% YoY (+25.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.7/100)
#53
City of Bardwell
CITY • Ellis County • Pop: 676
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.174152Fiscal: 89.6Regulatory: 85.4Debt: 100▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.3% YoY (+21.5% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.7/100)
#54
City of East Mountain
CITY • Gregg County • Pop: 972
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.148532Fiscal: 91.1Regulatory: 83.5Debt: 100▲ +0.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.5% YoY (+22.5% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.7/100)
#55
City of Mountain City
CITY • Hays County • Pop: 676
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.085631Fiscal: 94.9Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 89.8▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+10.6% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.7/100)
#56
Town of Tenaha
CITY • Shelby County • Pop: 1,005
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1963Fiscal: 88.2Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.1 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.9% YoY (+27.2% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.6/100)
#57
Town of Trent
CITY • Taylor County • Pop: 299
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1950Fiscal: 88.3Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.1 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+24.8% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.6/100)
#58
Town of Richland
CITY • Freestone County • Pop: 266
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1950Fiscal: 88.3Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.6% YoY (-1.6% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.6/100)
#59
City of Covington
CITY • Hill County • Pop: 303
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1859Fiscal: 88.8Regulatory: 86Debt: 100▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+14.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.6/100)
#60
Town of Poth
CITY • Wilson County • Pop: 1,968
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.134236Fiscal: 91.9Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 94.3▲ +0.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+13.8% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.6/100)
#61
Town of New Hope
CITY • Collin County • Pop: 687
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.200635Fiscal: 88Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.1 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.8% YoY (+21.9% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.5/100)
#62
City of Lake Bridgeport
CITY • Wise County • Pop: 395
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2000Fiscal: 88Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.7% YoY (+10.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.5/100)
#63
City of Devers
CITY • Liberty County • Pop: 482
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.199296Fiscal: 88Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.8% YoY (+14.8% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.5/100)
#64
Town of Lakeside
CITY • San Patricio County • Pop: 363
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.101158Fiscal: 93.9Regulatory: 79.9Debt: 100▲ +0.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (+29.0% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.5/100)
#65
City of Waelder
CITY • Gonzales County • Pop: 955
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1437Fiscal: 91.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 94.1▲ +0.6 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.8% YoY (+14.3% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.4/100)
#66
City of Tatum
CITY • Rusk County • Pop: 1,403
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.204535Fiscal: 87.7Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.2% YoY (+34.8% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.4/100)
#67
City of Spofford
CITY • Kinney County • Pop: 43
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2094Fiscal: 87.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.4% YoY (+15.9% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.3/100)
#68
Town of Oak Grove
CITY • Kaufman County • Pop: 888
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.0470Fiscal: 97.2Regulatory: 75.1Debt: 100▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.3% YoY (+17.4% 5Y)
Grade A+(90.2/100)
#69
Town of Milford
CITY • Ellis County • Pop: 814
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.221325Fiscal: 86.7Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.4% YoY (+23.0% 5Y)
Grade A+(90/100)
#70
City of Fayetteville
CITY • Fayette County • Pop: 252
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.0705Fiscal: 95.8Regulatory: 84.9Debt: 87.1▲ 0.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.8% YoY (+24.9% 5Y)
Grade A(89.8/100)
#71
City of Goldthwaite
CITY • Mills County • Pop: 1,767
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.0000Fiscal: 100Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 77.7▼ -0.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.7% YoY (+13.4% 5Y)
Grade A(89.7/100)
#72
City of Petrolia
CITY • Clay County • Pop: 534
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2393Fiscal: 85.6Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+16.3% 5Y)
Grade A(89.6/100)
#73
City of Woodbranch
CITY • Montgomery County • Pop: 1,624
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.2363Fiscal: 85.8Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.7% YoY (+12.0% 5Y)
Grade A(89.6/100)
#74
City of Forsan
CITY • Howard County • Pop: 207
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.242863Fiscal: 85.4Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.7 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.7% YoY (-9.4% 5Y)
Grade A(89.5/100)
#75
Town of Estelline
CITY • Hall County • Pop: 120
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.242306Fiscal: 85.5Regulatory: 86.6Debt: 100▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.3% YoY (+54.9% 5Y)
Grade A(89.5/100)
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