Residents of the unincorporated community of Raywood gathered June 9 at the Raywood Livestock Market barn to learn more about a grassroots effort to incorporate the community as a city, a move organizers say would give local residents a stronger voice in how future growth and development are managed.
During the meeting, Cheryl Donatto, one of the leaders of the incorporation effort, outlined the lengthy process required under Texas law and answered questions from residents about taxes, annexation, city boundaries and future governance.
Supporters of incorporation say becoming a city would allow Raywood residents to elect their own local officials, establish local regulations, guide future development and pursue state and federal grant opportunities that are not available to unincorporated communities.
“We just can’t stress having a say so for our own growth, instead of just being run over or having somebody else make decisions for us,” Donatto told attendees.
The first phase of the effort includes determining the community’s population, establishing proposed city boundaries, conducting a land survey and gathering signatures from residents in support of incorporation.
According to Donatto, Raywood’s population is estimated to be between 750 and 800 residents based on 2020 Census data.
Under state law, a newly incorporated city with fewer than 2,000 residents may initially contain no more than two square miles. The proposed city must include at least 201 residents and existing businesses, while also leaving room for future growth.
Organizers have spent months researching the process and working with county officials to determine what is required.
“We reached out to even a couple other cities,” Donatto said. “A problem that we ran into is cities don’t get incorporated very often.”
She noted that Dayton Lakes Estates, incorporated in 1985, was the last city formed in Liberty County. Since that time, the flooding-prone city of Dayton Lake Estates has slowly devolved to the point where the county is unable to find who is in charge of leading that city. Before that, Ames incorporated in the early 1970s.
“The county judge has never done a new incorporation,” Donatto said. “The county attorney says, ‘I haven’t done one either.’ So they’re doing research just like we’re doing research.”
Donatto said unexpected issues have repeatedly forced organizers to revise their plans.
“It’s been roadblock after roadblock,” she said. “We didn’t think about Highway 90 expanding.”
One of the biggest challenges has been determining city boundaries. Organizers originally hoped to include areas near FM 2830, where a significant number of residents live, but later learned those properties fall within Liberty’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
Because state law prohibits a new city from overlapping another city’s ETJ, organizers were forced to redraw their proposed boundaries.
Once population and survey information is submitted to the Liberty County Clerk’s Office, petitions supporting incorporation can be issued. Organizers must then collect signatures from at least 10 percent of the registered voters who reside within the proposed city limits.
After the petitions are submitted, Liberty County Judge Jay Knight will determine whether the legal requirements have been met and whether the measure can be placed before voters.
Organizers initially hoped to place the incorporation question on the November 2026 ballot but now believe a May 2027 election is more likely.
If voters approve incorporation, Raywood would become a Type C general-law city. The proposed form of government would include a mayor and two commissioners, along with appointed positions including a city clerk, treasurer and tax assessor-collector.
Candidates for mayor and commissioner must appear on the same ballot as the incorporation election.
“Candidates that are running for those positions have to be on the same ballot as we’re voting to incorporate,” Donatto said. “When there’s a city, there’s already a government in place to handle it.”
Those elected in the first election would serve until the city’s first regular municipal election, after which officials would serve two-year terms.
Because the initial city boundaries would be limited to two square miles, many Raywood-area residents would remain outside the city limits if incorporation is approved. Donatto explained that future expansion would occur through voluntary annexation.
Unlike decades past, Texas law no longer allows cities to annex property without a property owner’s consent.
“No city can come and just annex you,” Donatto said. “Property owners have to give any city permission to annex them.”
Raywood’s ETJ would extend one-half mile beyond its city limits, providing room for future growth. Residents within that area could petition to join the city, while city leaders could also approach property owners about annexation.
Another topic that generated discussion was taxation.
Donatto acknowledged that incorporation would likely result in a city property tax unless sufficient revenue from businesses offsets the need.
Under state law, she said, a Type C city’s property tax rate is capped at 25 cents per $100 valuation.
For a property valued at $100,000, that would equal a maximum city tax of $250 annually.
“To me, that’s not a bad price to pay to have a say so in your hometown,” Donatto said.
She also pointed to grant opportunities available to incorporated cities, including programs through the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and other agencies.
“There are grants you can get,” she said. “As a city, you qualify for this money.”
“To help fund the incorporation effort, organizers are planning a cornhole tournament fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rivons Arena. Proceeds from the event will help offset surveying expenses and legal costs associated with the incorporation process.
Residents seeking additional information about the effort or wanting to review the full presentation can visit www.UniteRaywood.org/process.