The Greater Texoma Utility Authority, also known as "the Authority" or "GTUA", is a local political subdivision of the State and is governed by a Board of Directors. The Authority is a special-law district organized under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas constitution and operates under Chapter 49 of the Texas Water Code. While the State Legislature may have enacted a law to authorize the Authority, the cities of Denison and Sherman actually created the district by a confirmation election held on August 19, 1979. Since that time, the Cities of Anna, Bailey, Collinsville, Ector, Gainesville, Gunter, Howe, Leonard, Muenster, Pottsboro, Tioga, Tom Bean, Valley View, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, and Whitewright have also joined as member cities of the Authority.