Ferris is a growing city just off I45 straddling Dallas and Ellis County, and works to meet those challenges each day.
Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams wants to see it continue to grow, but he is concerned about increasing state government overreach. He says this is becoming more of a problem every legislative session.
He recently wrote letters to state senators and representatives asking them to make it stop since it seems the latest 88th Legislative Session in Texas continues to ignore local government’s autonomy.
Making it stop is a fair request and Williams said he is increasingly concerned at the maneuvering during this session to take away rights on the local level.
“There is no purer form of government that at the local level,” Williams says “Yet, we have seen it for decades where the one party continually is attacking the autonomy of local government. The laws they pass with larger cities in mind impact the smaller cities in major ways too.”
Williams recently penned a variety of letters to those sitting in Austin with six Bills specifically on his radar.
“I am opposed to those sitting in Austin who seem to be obsessed with destroying local government,” Williams explains.
Of mention, Williams points out these Bills, which will certainly hurt local government.
- Senate Bill 369 authored by Donna Campbell (R-25), is the automatic de-annexation of any area in a city that
is not receiving full municipal services by December 31, 2023, it would adversely impact cities across Texas. - Campbell has also authored Senate Bill 2368, a move to revoke four-day school weeks.
- Senate Bill 814 also in the House as Bill 2127 is the state’s desire to strip cities of local authority. Williams letter reads “Local entities, such as ours, have become aware that the legislature is debating a pair of bills that are aimed at stripping our local voters and elected representatives of their right to set policy on a wide array of issues.
As you know, the two bills stated above would bar municipalities from passing or enforcing local rules in several critical areas “unless explicitly authorized by statute.” Texas has always represented itself as a state that is proud of and built on local control. Texas has fought the federal government for control over various issues, including environmental regulation and oversight of voting laws, yet wishes to impose their will on local entities.” - House Bill 1526, Williams says “is beginning to look a lot like the impact fee statute. The bill presents as very
cumbersome and, ultimately, results in the land developer not providing its share of the demand back to the local taxpayers.” - Williams also strikes at House Bill 14 asking “Where is the motivation for this coming from? This is purely a move to bolster the rights of developers and it puts at risk the standards that cities have in place and our ability to responsibly manage development. Why is there a 15-day trigger in the bill?”
“There is primarily one party pushing these Bills in the House and Senate directly in opposition to what this party stands for,” Williams concludes. “Limited government, free enterprise and lower taxes is the benchmark of the Party, but these current issues speak in direct contrast to that ideology.”
If you would like to speak with City Manager Brooks Williams to discuss the City of Ferris’ opposition to government’s small city overreach and solutions to better create an environment where smaller cities can thrive without big government, I will be glad to facilitate an interview.
About the City of Ferris: The City of Ferris is a city located in both Dallas and Ellis County. It is located along I-45. A rapidly growing community, Ferris is 20 miles south of downtown with a total of 4.8 square miles.
