WHO is the COG?

Earlier we said we'd tell you WHO the NCTCOG was. We figured we'd let them do it.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions.

NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered around the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. NCTCOG has over 230 member governments including 16 counties, numerous cities, school districts, and special districts.

Each member government appoints a COG voting representative from its governing body. These voting representatives make up the General Assembly, which annually elects the Executive Board. The Executive Board, composed of 13 locally elected officials, is the policy-making body for all activities undertaken by the Council of Governments, including program activities and decisions, regional plans, and fiscal and budgetary policies. The Board is supported by technical, study, and policy development committees and a professional staff headed by Mike Eastland, Executive Director.

Membership in the Council of Governments is voluntary and is determined by passage of a resolution and the payment of dues, and is open to the following eligible members:

1. Any county in the North Central Texas State Planning Region as determined by the Office of the Governor, State of Texas.
2. All incorporated cities, municipalities, towns, and villages within the North Central Texas State Planning Region, as determined by the Office of the Governor, State of Texas.
3. Independent School, Hospital, Water and Sewer, and other
special-purpose districts within the North Central Texas State Planning Region, as determined by the Office of the Governor, State of Texas.

Each member is entitled to one (1) voting representative, but may send as many delegates as desired to Council meetings. The voting representative is an elective public official appointed by and from the governing body of the member government.

NCTCOG is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, but has no regulatory power or other authority possessed by cities, counties or other local governments. NCTCOG's decisions are not binding on member governments, but are considered and adopted as members' needs require. As a political subdivision, NCTCOG is subject to state laws governing open meetings, access to public records and conduct of public officials.

While their mission makes sense, some things don't. If we are reading this right, this is a non-government entity made up of local governments in which they must pay to be a part of. (With your money). They then make desicions which are not binding nor funded?