What is the difference between annexation and ETJ?
A- Annexation is when a municipality legally incorporates into the existing town or city limits a certain amount of land or territory outside their legal boundary. This may be done to consolidate two governments into one or perhaps to increase property tax revenue for the municipality. In this case all property owners (if registered to vote) will have a voice in how the new combined government is run. ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) refers to an area adjacent to and outside of a municipality in which the municipality has authority to exercise planning, zoning, building and subdivision regulation. Property owners affected by ETJ have no vote and little say in the municipalitys government, but will have to adhere to their ordinances and pay their taxes. The municipality will receive sales/use tax and other revenues from the area under ETJ.
