Each of the four county commissioners represents an area of the county, or precinct, that is designed to be roughly proportional in population to each of the other such areas. In addition to serving as a voting member of the court, county commissioners are often charged with overseeing county roads and bridges within their precinct, and are sometimes also responsible for solid waste collection, parks and other services within the precinct .The delivery of county services is frequently consolidated in county-wide departments, with the bulk of a commissioner's time being devoted to the commissioners' court. The commissioners are elected to staggered, four-year terms, with two taking office every other year.

Sets commissioners and justice of the peace precinct boundaries;
 

Calls, conducts and certifies elections, including bond elections;
 

Sets employment and benefit policy;
 

Establishes long-range thoroughfare, open space, land use, financial and law enforcement/jail needs plans;
 

Acquires property for rights-of-way or other uses determined to be in the public's best interest;
 

Reviews and approve subdivision platting and wastewater treatment for rural areas;
 

Provides rural ambulance services and subsidizes rural fire protection;
 

Oversees the construction, maintenance and improvement of county roads and bridges;
 

Appoints non-elected department heads and standing committees;
 

Supervises and controls the county courthouse, county buildings and facilities;
 

Adopts a county budget;
 

Determines county tax rates;
 

Fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions; and
 

Has exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the county.