Civic Insights with David Billings
If you’ve ever watched a legislator at a local event, you know the routine. They show up at the fundraiser, take a photo with the local civic organizations, congratulate the Eagle Scout, nod sympathetically when residents or city leaders talk about growth pressures—and then head back to Austin where nothing changes. The reality is blunt: Texas lawmakers only act when the right kind of pressure builds—and that pressure has to come from all sides, like a political pressure cooker ready to blow.
It’s not that legislators don’t understand or don’t care. Most are perfectly good people, empathetic, and genuinely want to help their communities. Many know exactly what small and mid-sized cities, school districts, and counties are up against: explosive growth, state-imposed tax caps, MUD-driven development that shifts costs onto cities, and a steady erosion of local authority. They get it. They just won’t act—and the reasons are systemic.
Here’s why: legislators cannot afford to go against their party platform, the governor’s priorities, or the lobbyists who fund and influence campaigns. The political consequences are immediate and severe. Step out of line, and a lawmaker risks losing committee assignments, being shunned by party leadership, called a “RINO,” stripped of campaign contributions, or even being primaried and replaced.
The chain of pressure runs from local party leaders all the way up through GOP leadership who help create the party platform. Add campaign loyalty to the mix, and the reality is clear: a legislator who isn’t in office can’t help anyone. Sympathy alone won’t pass legislation. Photo ops won’t balance budgets.
We often forget, especially in the current political environment, that for local government the stakes are high. Cities must still operate within state and federal laws and traditional structures that often dictate how they function. The “Austin Bubble” is more complex than the average citizen realizes. Passing bills, building consensus, and securing funding all take place within this constrained landscape. It’s tough.
That’s why something has to change—not just with legislators, but with all of us. Elected officials often respond when pressure comes from multiple directions: city halls, school boards, local chambers, statewide organizations, and ordinary taxpayers all demanding the same thing. They need to feel the heat not from one voice, but from a chorus too loud to ignore—and that pressure has to reach all the way to the governor. Everyone in the chain of power needs to see, hear, and feel the urgency of local government realities.
We need to connect the dots for the public: property tax caps or cost caps don’t actually reduce property taxes—they translate into fewer police officers and city services. Unchecked MUD growth, without regulatory authority to charge for city services, stretches EMS response times. State laws and policies leave cities subsidizing MUD infrastructure, which runs directly against the Texas Constitution. Article VIII, Section 1(a) requires taxation to be “equal and uniform,” yet city taxpayers are forced to cover costs for MUD growth without proportional contributions from MUD residents. These aren’t abstract fights—they’re real costs borne by communities, homeowners, and families.
The last legislative session made it clear: without stronger pressure, local decision-making authority will continue to slip further from local hands, and increased financial strain will fall on communities already stretched thin. Going into the 90th Session, the choice is simple: either we raise the level of notice now—or we accept another two years of sympathetic smiles and staged photo ops while cities and schools scramble to keep up.
The reality is blunt but unavoidable: nothing changes at the Capitol unless something new happens at home—and the pressure must come from every direction.
About the Author
David Billings, retired Mayor of Fate, has served the community for over a decade. A longtime business leader in the telecommunication industry, Navy veteran, and resident of Rockwall County, he brings both professional and civic experience to his writing on government, budgeting, and local economics. He is a graduate of Leadership Rockwall, North Texas Commission Leadership Program, active in several Rockwall County non-profits boards, and the American Legion.
He is passionate about civic involvement in local government, maintaining transparent governance and thoughtful strategic planning to preserve a bright future for the regions.
