Texas Research League Analyzes, July 1965 Page: 3 of 4
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Harris and Eliza Kempner and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rosenberg Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
a less than complete project, then later asking the Legislature
for funds to complete the project.
All of these features form the basis of the future operations
of the State Building Commission, and should provide a useful
framework for accomplishing the stated purposes of the new
law.
THE JOB AHEAD
Although a giant step forward was taken as a result of the
passage of H.B. 37, there still is much to be done if the
promise implied in the new law is to become a reality. The
new Building Commission has many problems in store-prob-
lems which must be quickly and effectively solved if it is to
be ready for the booming State building program by Septem-
ber.
Three major areas of activity face the Building Commission
in the 1966-1967 biennium:
1. The construction of $28.4 million of various
projects for the using agencies;
2. Project analyses of at least $30 million in future
projects; and
3. The probable responsibility for about $4.6 million
of construction-in-progress for various using
agencies.
Probably the most important activity in preparing for the
new law's implementation will take place not in the biennium
ahead but in the critical lead time between now and Septem-ber 1, 1965. It is obvious that the new duties of the Commis-
sion cannot spring Phoenix-like from the ashes of the old
without careful and detailed advance planning. There are a
host of decisions which must be made by the Commission
itself, based on the logical alternatives presented to it by the
Commission staff.
There are also duties to be performed by other State
agencies. But above all the Commission must be organized,
staffed and trained for duty by September 1, 1965.
Construction Projects Under Supervision of
State Building Commission, By Agency, 1965-67
AGENCY BUILDING APPROPRIATION
Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation $12,180,500'
Texas Youth Council 1,492,655
Building Commission 5,905,600
Texas Employment
Commission 1,250,000
Parks and Wildlife
Department 2,132,214
Board of Control 114,450
Texas Education Agency 336,950
HemisFair 4,500,000
Miscellaneous
(some estimated) 545,000
Total $28,457,369
*Includes $528,500 for T.B. hospitals, but appropriated to Department
of MH & MR.LEAGUE PREPARES TO UNDERTAKE
"MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT EVER REQUESTED"An amazing degree of statewide interest has attended the
League's preparations to undertake a study requested by Gov-
ernor Connally of the service structures of local governmental
units in the State's twenty-one metropolitan areas. Since the
announcement on May 13 that the League's Board of Directors
had accepted the study request, large numbers of municipal
and county officials have indicated their interest and their
desire to cooperate.
Several municipal bodies have invited the League to con-
sider their cities in planning whatever "pilot" studies are to
be included in the overall project. The Chambers of Com-
merce of a number of cities have volunteered their support.
Governor Connally, in his letter to League Chairman Tom
Sealy requesting the study, commented that in his judgment
"this may be the most important assignment, and one of the
most timely, ever requested of your research organization."
Certainly it will be the biggest project yet attempted in terms
of manpower and consultant services and field work required.
The Governor suggested that the League devote "three years
or more" to the project, but asked that it make a progress
report, "together with any recommendations which the study
may have developed," to the Regular Session of the 60th Texas
Legislature in January, 1967.
Describing the objectives of the study as he saw them, the
Governor said that they would encompass "what appropriate
steps should be taken, at both local and state levels, to
modernize and improve the administration, planning and fi-
nancing of public services deemed essential to the well-being
of the inhabitants of these urban areas." He also called for an
evaluation of the federal programs tying into local govern-
ment.
FAST GROWING AREAS
The term "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area"-or, as
it is more commonly known, "metropolitan area''-is a care-
fully defined term used by the Census Bureau to designatepopulous and dynamic areas adjacent to and including one or
more major cities. There are 212 such areas in the United
States-21 in Texas.
The 34 counties which comprise these 21 areas have had
virtually all of the population growth in Texas during the past
25 years. The 1940 Census enumerated a little over three
million persons in these areas-47% of the total population
of 6.4 million. By 1960, the metropolitan counties had a pop-
ulation of 6.3 million-nearly two-thirds of the total. Mean-
while the aggregate population of the other 220 counties had
remained almost static. By 1970 it is anticipated that another
two million Texans will reside in these 21 areas and, by that
date, they will include seven out of every ten people living in
the State.
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE COMPLEX
As is well known, the governmental structure in metropoli-
tan areas is exceedingly complex. In 1962 there were 919 local
governmental entities operating in the 21 metropolitan areas
in Texas-34 counties, 288 municipalities, 354 school districts
and 243 special districts. There has been little change in the
total number of local governments in the past decade, but this
is largely due to the decreasing number of school districts. Be-
tween 1952 and 1962 the number of school districts in the
21 metropolitan areas declined from 502 to 354, but this was
offset by the incorporation of 89 new municipalities and the
creation of 60 new special districts.
The relationships between these many local governmental
units, on the one hand, and their relationships with the State
and Federal governments on the other, will form a major part
of the League's study. In addition, the League staff will doubt-
less consider some inter-metropolitan relationships. For
example, the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, with a total
population of 1.6 million living in six counties and served by
149 governments, adjoin each other and have many common
interests. This is substantially true also of the Houston, Beau-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View one place within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas Research League. Texas Research League Analyzes, July 1965, periodical, July 1965; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1427922/m1/3/?q=%221967%22: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.