Local

LOCAL GOVERNMENT• Types of Local Government – County & Municipality

• Municipality – a city, town, or village with an organized government and the authority to make and enforce laws. (State General Assembly grants charter)

• Ordinance – a law passed by a local government.

• Zoning – designating different areas of land for different uses.

1. residential – housing2. commercial – business (retail, etc…)3. industrial – factories

• Annexation – incorporating land into a municipality.

COUNTY GOVERNMENTCounty Government

County Commissioners – voters elect commissioners (3-11). Chairperson – may be elected or chosen by commissioners.

County Commissioners are responsible for the following…• Hire administrators for education, elections, mental

health, public health, social services, alcoholic beverage control, and soil and water conservation.

County Manager – Hired by the County Commissioners. Responsible for budget.

LEA – Local Education Authority• Voters elect a school board to carry out state

education policy.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTMunicipality Government

• Each municipality elects a governing board. (City Council, Town Council, Board of Commissioners, Board of Alderman)

• Elections (At Large- 50 person ballot, by Ward- made of several precincts of voters, or Mixture)

• Pass Ordinances – municipal policies, approve budgets, set municipal tax rates, regulate what people can do in the municipality.

Mayor-Council Plan• In this system the mayor is elected and serves as the

executive. Carries out policies, budget, etc…

Council-Manager Plan• Governing board hires a professional called a

“manager”, to carry out policies. This is how Kernersville, W-S, etc… operate.

GOVERNMENT FINANCESLocal Government Budget

• Expenditures utilities (water, sewage)

public safetypublic schools public healthmental healthsocial services

• Revenues user Fees (water, sewage)property taxintergovernmental revenue (grants, shared

taxes, and loans)