Overview of Local Government
The concept of local government is deeply rooted in our
national heritage. Small communities were the beginnings of the United States.
Local governments can be more responsive to citizens than
state and federal government, but the limitations are that local units need the
cooperation of other entities to deal effectively with bigger issues such as
transportation and pollution.
There are four main types of local government-
counties,
cities and town,
special districts, and school districts.
- ·
Counties
are the largest units of local government, numbering about 8,000 nationwide.
They provide many of the same services provided by cities.
- · Municipalities include cities, villages, and boroughs and they number about 19,000
in the United States. Often called city government, municipalities provide
services such as police and fire protection, parks and recreation, streets and
sewers, among others.
- ·
Most of the more than 15,000 school districts in the U.S.
operate independently of city government.
- ·
The 33,000 special
districts nationwide are organized to provide one or more services such
as water and sanitation, mosquito control, transportation, parks and
recreation, flood control, etc. Special districts have the authority to levy
taxes and to spend public money.
Counties:
In Washington State
there are 39 counties that are headed by county commissioners. Commissioners
are elected officials who make policy decisions for the county. Each county government may operate a little
differently based on the population and the special needs of the area. Some
counties have much higher populations than others as well as unique needs based
on that population and the area in which it is located.
The following positions are either elected or appointed/
hired depending on what county you live in.
·
Clerk and Recorder -records deeds, keeps records
and maps of the county
·
Sheriff -keeps and preserves the peace
·
Coroner -determined the cause of death when it
is not known
·
Treasurer -received and pays out all money of
the county when directed by the county commissioners. Assessor -collects
property tax from residents
·
Surveyor -represents the county in boundary
disputes -establishes boundaries in the county
·
Building and Zoning -issues building permits for
houses and businesses
·
Courts -Civil, criminal, juvenile, traffic,
probate, small claims
·
Health -birth and death certificates, food
service licenses, nursing homes
·
Housing Authority -housing assistance
Cities/Towns:
In Washington State
there are approximated 281 cities and towns. The Mayor and City Council are the
elected officials who make policy decisions for each city.
·
The day-to-day operations of cities are carried
out by people who are hired, not elected, to their job. Here are some
departments in cities. Some departments exist only in larger cities. Compare
where you live to this list.
o
PUBLIC SAFETY -Fire -Safety -Animal Control
o
PUBLIC WORKS -streets, water, sewers
o
RECREATION -Parks and open space -sports
programs -bike paths -golf courses -pools -recreation centers -senior and youth
centers
o
PLANNING -issue building permits for news houses
and businesses -plan for the future -supervise city regulations regarding sign
codes, etc.
o
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS -enforces environmental
laws
o
AIRPORT - manages the airport
o
LIBRARY -maintains the library
o
LEGAL
DEPARTMENT - city attorney- provides legal advice to the city -municipal judge-
tried cases involving minor offenses
1. What is a city/town?
A city is a unit of government that has certain rights and
responsibilities to its citizens. Cities collect taxes, make contracts, provide
services, and make laws of ordinances for the health, safety, and well-being of
its residents.
2. Who are the leaders?
The elected leaders of a city are the mayor and city council
members. In some cities people elect the mayor. In other cities a council
member is elected by his/her fellow city council members to be mayor. Only in
large cities is the mayor a full-time job. The mayor and city council members
make policy decisions about the way the city is run. The people who carry out
the policy decisions of the city council are not elected. They are hired
employees of the city. The city council hires a city manager or city
administrator to manage the daily operations of the city. He/she in turn
appoints department heads who are responsible for activities within their
departments. Public works, Finance, Planning and Building, Parks and
Recreation, and Public Safety (fire and police) are examples of city
departments. The City must also have a City Attorney for handling legal issues,
a Municipal Judge who presides over the court, and a City Clerk who handles
records and documents of the city.
3. How are cities/towns funded?
Cities depend heavily on sales tax revenue. That means the
city collects a percent of every item or service purchased within its
boundaries. Cities also receive revenue from fees such as water service to your
home, and licenses such as dog or bike licenses.
School Districts
School districts are
units of local government that provide education to children from kindergarten
through high school. In some districts adult education and preschool programs
are also offered. School districts are headed by an elected school board who hires
a superintendent to supervise the daily operations of the district. In Colorado
there are over 176 public school districts.
1. What is a School
Board?
School boards are set up by the Colorado legislature as a
body of elected officials who are responsible for making policy decisions for
the school district in their jurisdiction. School boards have the authority to
own property, sue and be sued, and to enter into contracts. School boards
determine educational programs, adopt textbooks and discipline codes, create a
yearly budget, and establish a school calendar, among other responsibilities.
1. Who are the leaders?
There are no fewer than five and no more than seven board
members from each district. The board elects a president, vice president,
secretary, and treasurer. The president and vice president are elected for
two-year terms.
2. How are School Boards funded?
Public schools in Colorado are funded approximately 45%
through property taxes collected by individual counties. Additional funding
(55%) comes from the state general fund, although the percentages may vary from
district to district.
3. What is the history of School Boards?
The history of public
education in the United States is deeply rooted in our heritage. The Puritans
came from England to the New World with an appreciation of education. Initially
children were schooled at home, but as towns grew so did the need for a town
school. As early as 1642 the colony of Massachusetts appealed to the colonial
legislature to enact a law requiring parents and schoolmasters educate children
and teach them to read. Town selectmen were responsible for enforcing the
education laws as the details of education had become too burdensome and time
consuming for individuals to administer directly. In the 1700’s the practice of
collecting taxes to pay for schools was well established. By the end of the
century the “central town” distributed tax money to each parish, or district
that surrounded it so it could maintain its own school.
4. How are School Boards formed?
The Washington State Statutes grants both the power and the
responsibility to school boards to provide free quality public education to
citizens of Washington. Voters decide whether or not to form or reorganize
school boards.
5. What powers do School Boards have?
The Washington State Statutes grants school boards certain
powers as a local government. These include the power to hold property, sue and
be sued, and engage in contracts.
Special Districts
Special districts are units of local government that are
formed by citizens to meet a particular need. There are over 800 special
districts in Washington State and their boundaries may cross more than one
county. They are run by an elected board of directors, who hires employees to
assist with daily operations. Services provided through special districts are:
-mosquito control -public parks -safety protection (traffic and safety controls)
-sanitation -water -fire protection -street improvements -T.V. relays and
translators -cemeteries -hospitals -airports -RTD -flood control
6. What is a Special District?
When was the last time you turned on the water in your
house, or rode your bike on a major street in your town without falling into a
pothole? It is likely that a Special District made that possible for you.
Special Districts are a unique form of local government because they are almost
“invisible.” You don’t hear a lot about them, but there are over 800 Special
Districts in Washington. Special Districts are governments whose boundaries
cross over city and county lines. Special Districts are forms to provide one or
more specific services to citizens. For example, in Washington there are metropolitan
(city) park and recreation, fire, hospital, sanitation, water, and water and
sanitation districts. However, Special Districts also provide services such as
mosquito control, television relay, and museums.
2. How are they funded?
Special Districts are funded (get their money from) property
taxes. That means if you own property, every year you are taxed by the county.
The amount of tax is based on how much your property is worth. A part of that
tax goes to the Special Districts in the county.
3. Who are the leaders?
Most Special Districts are run by a board of elected members
who meet regularly and who are paid a small amount of money each year for their
efforts. Some larger Special Districts have members who are appointed, either
by a County Commissioner or by the Governor.
Your assignment for this blog is to be the teacher. You will create a quiz and will "test" other students on Monday.
Write down fifteen questions and answers based on the above information. You will turn this in as an assignment.
Read ALL of the text ... no skipping or skimming... because your teacher just might give you a pop quiz as well!!
Comment here on what you did today or in the last few days that was FUN. Your teacher misses you and wants to hear happy news. :)
