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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 1–15 of 15 matching jurisdictions
28-Year Freedom & Budget Trend Benchmark (FY 2000 – FY 2027)
Cohort Average Across Visible Page (15 Ranked Entities)5-Yr Freedom Trend (FY 22→27)
▲ +0.6 pts
27-Yr Liberty Shift (FY 00→27)
▲ +2.0 pts
Annual Budget Growth (YoY)
+2.1% YoY
5-Yr Budget Expansion
+8.0% (CAGR +2.3%/yr)
#42
State Rank
Harris County Department of Education
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Harris County • Pop: 4,779,880
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.004728Fiscal: 99.7Regulatory: 100Debt: 98▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.7% YoY (+13.8% 5Y)
Grade A+(99.4/100)
#47
State Rank
Dallas County Schools
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Dallas County • Pop: 2,453,843
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.00991Fiscal: 99.4Regulatory: 100Debt: 98▲ +0.9 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.0% YoY (+13.0% 5Y)
Grade A+(99.3/100)
#73
State Rank
Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Bell County • Pop: 387,000
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.002216Fiscal: 99.9Regulatory: 100Debt: 96▲ +1.2 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.3% YoY (-80.7% 5Y)
Grade A+(99/100)
#315
State Rank
Port of Houston Authority
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Harris County • Pop: 4,779,880
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.005935Fiscal: 99.6Regulatory: 100Debt: 90.1▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.7% YoY (+13.2% 5Y)
Grade A+(97.4/100)
#691
State Rank
El Paso County 911 District
SPECIAL DISTRICT • El Paso County • Pop: 827,938
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1479Fiscal: 91.1Regulatory: 100Debt: 98▲ +0.9 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.5% YoY (+14.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(95.9/100)
#819
State Rank
Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Nueces County • Pop: 427,840
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.14925Fiscal: 91Regulatory: 100Debt: 96▲ +1.0 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.6% YoY (+13.3% 5Y)
Grade A+(95.4/100)
#921
State Rank
Amarillo-Potter Events Venue District
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Potter County • Pop: 287,800
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1491Fiscal: 91.1Regulatory: 100Debt: 92.7▲ +0.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.1% YoY (+13.2% 5Y)
Grade A+(94.6/100)
#1101
State Rank
Harris County Hospital District
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Harris County • Pop: 5,009,302
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.188923Fiscal: 88.7Regulatory: 100Debt: 90.5▲ +0.8 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.5% YoY (+13.1% 5Y)
Grade A+(93.1/100)
#1155
State Rank
Dallas County Hospital District
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Dallas County • Pop: 2,734,111
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.210516Fiscal: 87.4Regulatory: 100Debt: 91.1▲ +0.9 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.6% YoY (+13.9% 5Y)
Grade A+(92.7/100)
#1162
State Rank
Port of Corpus Christi Authority
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Nueces County • Pop: 457,971
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.14835Fiscal: 91.1Regulatory: 100Debt: 84.5▲ +0.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.3% YoY (+13.5% 5Y)
Grade A+(92.6/100)
#2319
State Rank
North Texas Tollway Authority
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Collin County • Pop: 6,959,192
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.15105Fiscal: 90.9Regulatory: 100Debt: 73.3▼ -0.1 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.5% YoY (+12.5% 5Y)
Grade A(89.7/100)
#2318
State Rank
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Dallas County • Pop: 2,530,000
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.1503Fiscal: 91Regulatory: 100Debt: 73.3▼ -0.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.5% YoY (+13.8% 5Y)
Grade A(89.7/100)
#2408
State Rank
Alamo CCD
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Bexar County • Pop: 2,110,643
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.31648Fiscal: 81Regulatory: 100Debt: 86.5▲ +0.4 pts (5Y)Budget: +3.4% YoY (+18.9% 5Y)
Grade A(89/100)
#2438
State Rank
Austin CCD
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Travis-Williamson County • Pop: 2,227,083
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.31552Fiscal: 81.1Regulatory: 100Debt: 84.6▲ +0.5 pts (5Y)Budget: +2.6% YoY (+17.4% 5Y)
Grade A(88.6/100)
#2477
State Rank
Port Freeport
SPECIAL DISTRICT • Brazoria County • Pop: 372,031
FY 27 Tax Rate: $0.308663Fiscal: 81.5Regulatory: 100Debt: 81.2▲ +0.3 pts (5Y)Budget: +1.6% YoY (+16.8% 5Y)
Grade A(87.9/100)