Could a Texas public-school teacher paid through a federal program also receive a salary as a city council member?
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This page answers the general question as of 1983. Ezel answers yours: what it means for your facts, under current Texas law, with citations.
Texas AG Opinion JM-118: Federally Funded Teacher and City Council Salary
Plain-English summary
JM-118 concluded that public-school teachers working in specified federally funded programs received at least part of their compensation indirectly from Texas state funds. Article XVI, section 40 therefore allowed them to serve on a city council only if they received no council salary.
"We conclude that since such persons receive at least part of their compensation from state funds, they may serve simultaneously as public school teachers and as members of a city council only if they receive no salary for service on the city council."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
For the Title I regular and migrant programs, federal funds were deposited in the state treasury, appropriated to the education agency, administered by that agency, and sent to the district by state warrants. The opinion treated federal money deposited in the state treasury as state funds.
"Funding from the federal government for these programs is deposited in the state treasury in H.E.W. Fund No. 148 and is appropriated to the Texas Central Education Agency by the Texas Legislature."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf"Federal funds deposited in the state treasury become state funds."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
For the Title VII bilingual program, the federal grant went directly to the school district. Even so, the teacher participated in the state retirement system, the employer contribution came from federal program funds, and the opinion treated retirement benefits as compensation.
"The employer's contribution is paid from the federal program funds."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf"Retirement benefits, including future benefits, are compensation."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1983. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.
Common questions
Did article XVI, section 40 prohibit the teachers from serving on the city council?
No. It prohibited them from receiving a salary for council service while they received any part of their compensation directly or indirectly from state funds.
"[S]uch State employees or other individuals shall receive no salary for serving as members of such governing bodies."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Why were Title I funds treated as state funds?
The federal money entered the state treasury, was appropriated by the Legislature, and reached the school district through state warrants.
"The funds in question are administered by the Texas Education Agency and forwarded to the school district by state warrants."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Did direct federal payment to the district change the answer for the bilingual-program teacher?
No. The opinion still found an indirect state-funds connection through the teacher-retirement contribution and benefit structure.
"A provision of the Teacher Retirement System requires that, if an employer applies for money provided by the United States or an agency of the United States and if any of the money will pay part or all of an employee's salary, the employer shall apply for available money to pay the required state contribution to the retirement system."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf"The legislature appropriates the required state contribution to the Teacher Retirement System out of the general revenue fund."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
What federally funded programs were involved?
Two teachers directed Title I regular and migrant programs, and another directed a Title VII bilingual education program.
"Two of the teachers are employed by the school district as directors of programs enacted by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which are referred to as a Title I, Regular Program, and Title I, Migrant Program."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf"You also describe a teacher who is employed by the school district as director of a program enacted by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is referred to as a Title VII, Bilingual Education Program."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Background and legal framework
Article XVI, section 40 addressed state employees and other people receiving compensation from state funds who also served on local governing bodies. It permitted the dual service but barred a local-board salary.
"[S]tate employees or other individuals who receive all or part of their compensation either directly or indirectly from funds of the State of Texas and who are not State officers, shall not be barred from serving as members of the governing bodies of school districts, cities, towns, or other local governmental districts; provided, however, that such State employees or other individuals shall receive no salary for serving as members of such governing bodies."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
The deciding issue was not whether the teachers could hold both positions. It was whether their compensation included state funds, which determined whether they could be paid for council service.
"Since it is clear that a public school teacher may not receive a salary for service on a city council if any part of the teacher's compensation is derived directly or indirectly from state funds, the question is whether the teachers you describe are compensated by state funds within the meaning of article XVI, section 40."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Holding
"Therefore, we conclude that each of the teachers in question receives part of his compensation indirectly from funds of the state and may serve on a city council only if he receives no salary for service on the city council."
Source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Source
- Landing page: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/jim-mattox/jm-0118
- Original PDF: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1983/jm0118.pdf
Original opinion text
Best-effort transcription from a scanned PDF. Minor errors may remain. The linked PDF is authoritative.
The Attorney General of Texas
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General
December 30, 1983
Honorable Thomas F. Lee
District Attorney
P. O. Box 1405
Del Rio, Texas 78840
Opinion No. JM-118
Re: Whether article XVI, section 40 of the Texas Constitution prevents a school teacher working under a federally funded program from receiving compensation for service as a city councilman
Dear Mr. Lee:
You have asked whether article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution prevents public school teachers who work under federally funded programs from receiving compensation for service as city councilmen. We conclude that since such persons receive at least part of their compensation from state funds, they may serve simultaneously as public school teachers and as members of a city council only if they receive no salary for service on the city council.
Article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution provides, in pertinent part, that
[S]tate employees or other individuals who receive all or part of their compensation either directly or indirectly from funds of the State of Texas and who are not State officers, shall not be barred from serving as members of the governing bodies of school districts, cities, towns, or other local governmental districts; provided, however, that such State employees or other individuals shall receive no salary for serving as members of such governing bodies.
Since it is clear that a public school teacher may not receive a salary for service on a city council if any part of the teacher's compensation is derived directly or indirectly from state funds, the question is whether the teachers you describe are compensated by state funds within the meaning of article XVI, section 40. See Attorney General Opinion MW-230 (1980).
Two of the teachers are employed by the school district as directors of programs enacted by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which are referred to as a Title I, Regular Program, and Title I, Migrant Program. See Public Law 97-35, title V, subtitle D, chapter 1, sections 551-560, codified as 20 U.S.C.A. §§ 3801 et seq. Funding from the federal government for these programs is deposited in the state treasury in H.E.W. Fund No. 148 and is appropriated to the Texas Central Education Agency by the Texas Legislature. See General Appropriations Act, Acts 1983, 68th Leg., ch. 1095, art. III, § 1, at III-2. The funds in question are administered by the Texas Education Agency and forwarded to the school district by state warrants. Federal funds deposited in the state treasury become state funds. See Attorney General Opinion C-530 at 2529 (1965).
You also describe a teacher who is employed by the school district as director of a program enacted by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is referred to as a Title VII, Bilingual Education Program. See Bilingual Education Act, codified as 20 U.S.C.A. §§ 3221-3261. Federal funding for this program is forwarded directly to the school district from the federal government and is deposited in a Designated Purpose Fund in which the school district places other federal, state, and local funds.
You advise that each of the described teachers participates in the State Retirement System, which is administered by a state agency, and each teacher makes the employee's contribution to the system. The employer's contribution is paid from the federal program funds. A provision of the Teacher Retirement System requires that, if an employer applies for money provided by the United States or an agency of the United States and if any of the money will pay part or all of an employee's salary, the employer shall apply for available money to pay the required state contribution to the retirement system. When an employer receives money for the state contribution from an application made in accordance with that provision, the employer shall immediately send the money to the retirement system for deposit in the general revenue fund of the state treasury. See V.T.C.S. Title 110B, Public Retirement Systems, § 35.405. As we already have noted, federal funds deposited in the state treasury become state funds subject to appropriation. See Attorney General Opinion WW-565 (1959). The legislature appropriates the required state contribution to the Teacher Retirement System out of the general revenue fund. See General Appropriations Act, Acts 1983, 68th Leg., ch. 1095, art. III, § 1, at III-18. Retirement benefits, including future benefits, are compensation. See Byrd v. City of Dallas, 6 S.W.2d 738 (Tex. 1928); Attorney General Opinion M-413 (1969); Letter Advisory No. 154 (1978).
Therefore, we conclude that each of the teachers in question receives part of his compensation indirectly from funds of the state and may serve on a city council only if he receives no salary for service on the city council.
SUMMARY
Certain public school teachers who work under particular federally funded programs receive at least part of their compensation from state funds. Therefore, article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution permits such teachers to serve as members of a city council only if they receive no salary for service on the city council.
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General of Texas
TOM GREEN
First Assistant Attorney General
DAVID R. RICHARDS
Executive Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Nancy Sutton
Assistant Attorney General
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE
Rick Gilpin, Chairman
Colin Carl
Susan Garrison
Jim Moellinger
Nancy Sutton
Bruce Youngblood
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