ABSTRACT
CONTENTS Introduction and Background ................................................................. 404 Research Questions ................................................................................. 405 Survey and Methods ............................................................................... 406 Texas Counties, Their Governments, and Officials ................................. 407 Homeland Security Preparedness and Planning....................................... 409 Homeland Security Funding ................................................................... 411 Intergovernmental Aspects of Homeland Security ................................... 414 County Government Financial Impacts and Homeland Security ............ 417
Conclusion.............................................................................................. 420 References ............................................................................................... 421
This chapter examines homeland security administration and finance in Texas county governments in the United States. A survey was conducted in the spring of 2006 to determine the extent of funding sources for homeland security and the perception by county officials on the effectiveness of financing homeland security. First, the results of this study indicate that as the size of the county government increases, the various aspects of homeland security finances also increase. Second, county officials have indicated that increased funding for homeland security will come from existing revenue sources; raising property taxes is not a feasible option. Third, there is a belief by county officials that there has not been a radical change in the existing county budget as a result of homeland security initiatives. Counties feel that they are well prepared in their financial management systems to deal with a possible terrorist attack.
