Who Runs the City of Texarkana, Texas? A Guide to Your Local Government
Who Runs the City of
Texarkana, Texas?
A plain-language guide to Texarkana, Texas city government — who holds power, what each office actually does, and how you can take part.
The city at a glance
What the city government does
The City of Texarkana, Texas provides the everyday services residents use inside the city limits, including:
- Police protection and the municipal court.
- Fire protection and emergency medical response.
- Water, sewer and sanitation (trash) service.
- City streets and public works.
- Parks and recreation.
- Planning, zoning, building permits and code enforcement.
- Animal services.
The city handles services inside the city limits. Bowie County handles countywide functions — the courts, jail, property records, tax collection and elections. See TXK Today’s Who Runs Bowie County guide.
Two roles: the Council and the City Manager
Texarkana is a home-rule city with a Council–Manager form of government — the most common setup for Texas cities. It splits the work in two:
- The elected Mayor and City Council set policy — they pass ordinances, adopt the city budget and set the property tax rate.
- A professional City Manager, hired by the council, runs the city day to day — overseeing departments, staff and the budget.
Who’s in charge of what?
The City Council makes the rules and sets the direction. The City Manager carries them out and runs operations. Councilmembers set policy as a body; they do not manage individual departments themselves.
The Mayor and City Council
The City Council has seven members: the Mayor and six ward councilmembers.
The Mayor is elected at-large by all city voters to a three-year term. The mayor presides over council meetings and is the ceremonial head of the city, but votes only to break a tie. The current mayor is Bob Bruggeman.
The six councilmembers are each elected by the voters of their own ward to three-year, staggered terms.
The current council (as of June 2026)
- Ward 1 — Jean Matlock
- Ward 2 — Mary Hart
- Ward 3 — Steve Thompson
- Ward 4 — Christie Page
- Ward 5 — Cole Meador
- Ward 6 — Jay Davis
City offices are nonpartisan. The mayor and councilmembers serve three-year terms, and city elections are held on the first Saturday in May, so officeholders can change.
The City Manager
The City Manager is hired by the City Council and serves as the city’s chief executive. The manager runs the day-to-day government — directing all city departments, hiring and supervising staff, and preparing the annual budget for the council to consider. The manager attends council meetings and advises the council but does not vote. The current city manager is David Orr.
City departments and services
The city manager oversees the departments that deliver day-to-day services. Here’s what the main ones do for you.
| Department | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Police | City law enforcement, patrol and investigations. |
| Fire | Fire protection and emergency medical response. |
| Public Works | City streets, water, sewer and sanitation. |
| Planning & Community Development | Zoning, land use and development. |
| Inspections & Code Enforcement | Building permits, inspections and code compliance. |
| Animal Services | Animal control and the city shelter. |
| Municipal Court | City ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanors, such as traffic tickets. |
How the city is funded
The city runs mainly on property (ad valorem) taxes, sales taxes, and fees for utilities like water, sewer and sanitation. Each year the City Council adopts the budget and sets the city property tax rate — the clearest point for residents to weigh in on how their money is spent. The city manager prepares the proposed budget for the council to consider.
How to take part
- Attend a City Council meeting. The council meets at City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd. (Council Chambers, 2nd floor). Meetings are open to the public; confirm the current day and time and read upcoming agendas through the city’s online portal.
- Vote. City elections are nonpartisan and held on the first Saturday in May; the mayor is elected citywide and councilmembers by ward, to three-year terms. See TXK Today’s Bowie County voting guide for how and when to vote.
- Look it up. Find departments, officials, agendas and services at texarkanatexas.gov.
Key contacts & resources
Texarkana, TX 75501
TXK Today’s guides are a free community resource for the Texarkana region. Officeholders, meeting times and city services can change, and city seats are elected each May. Always confirm current officials and details with the City of Texarkana, Texas before you rely on them. This guide is nonpartisan and is not legal advice.
Sources: City of Texarkana, Texas (texarkanatexas.gov) and its City Charter, the Texas Municipal League, and the U.S. Census Bureau.