Chapter 12 Local Government

Essential Questions How are powers of local governments defined? What kinds of services do local governments provide? How do local governments both cooperate and conflict with other levels of government?

Types of Local Government Counties Oldest form of local government Made to carry out laws in rural areas Governed by county boards: a group of people who manage the business of an organization 3-5 members (commissioners) set up programs and pass ordinances: local laws Share power with other boards (hospital, library)

Types of Local Government Townships Used in places with large rural populations (away from cities) Set up schools, repair roads

Types of Local Government New England Towns Called “the town” Started by building villages with homes, a church, a school, and farmland. Voters met to pass laws, set taxes, set budget Closest thing to direct democracy in U.S. Have duties like counties in other regions

Types of Local Government Special District Generally provides a single service for multiple communities EX: subways, parks, protect from fires, control insects

Types of Local Government Cities Municipality: a government that serves people who live in an urban area Municipalities with large populations = cities Municipalities with small populations = towns Powers are set by the state government Follow 1 of 3 plans

Types of Local Government Plan 1: The Mayor-Council Plan Weak vs. Strong Mayor Plan Mayor – Executive Council – Legislative Branch

Weak Mayor Plan Weak Mayor: Council holds power Elected by the people and acts as legislative and executive branch. Mayor chosen from council members Council chooses officials, makes ordinances, and controls budget

Strong Mayor Plan Strong Mayor: Mayor holds the power Mayor and council are like the President and Congress Council: makes ordinances Mayor: elected by voters, in charge of the budget, makes policies, and chooses city officials

Types of Local Government Plan 2: The Council-Manager Plan History: “Machines” = Corruption Run government like a business Council: makes ordinances Manager: prepares budget, in charge of people working for the city Manager is not elected = free from political pressure

Types of Local Government Plan 3: The Commission Plan Group of Commissioners make ordinances together and direct one city department each Problem: No single leader to control budget or make departments work together.

Services: Education Most $ spent here Elementary – High school (some 2 yr. colleges) Local school boards build schools and hire teachers/staff. Strong say in what is taught State government – make sure state standards are met (provide funding) Federal government – helps pay for buildings, school lunch programs, and programs for children with special needs

Services: Health and Welfare Provide health and childcare to families in need of extra assistance Train people for new careers, provide low-cost places to live Inspect restaurants, markets, hotels, and water to make sure state/federal standards are met

Services: Public Safety Emergency = 9-1-1 Police and firefighters also help in non- emergencies Teach citizens to prevent break-ins Fire safety codes (fire hazards, faulty wiring) Local govn’t hires people to make sure buildings are made to code (new buildings)

Utilities Utilities: services needed by the public, such as water, gas, electricity, sewage treatment plants, and garbage collection Utilities are provided at the local level to meet specific community needs. State or federal govn’ts would not be equipped to do this.

Land Use Zoning: local rules that divide a community into areas and tell how the land in each area is to be used (Example?) Considerations: Who will use the park, what does the park need? Will a new road bring too much traffic downtown? Is there enough low-income housing? How does the development affect the environment?

Land Use Planning Process: Local government appoints a planning commission to set goals and get information about the community Commission works with a staff and looks into requests from builders/read reports Staff gives their opinion, Commission decides what to do, plans are given to city council for final decision.

Paying for Services Taxes: Property Tax: a tax on land and buildings Sales Tax

Paying for Services Money also comes from: inspecting buildings bridge tolls park entrance fees parking meters Government run businesses (parking garage) Borrow from banks for big projects (bonds) Grant money from state/federal government Generally the services needed are greater than the money available in the community

Cooperation & Conflict: Local vs. Local Work together because the services would cost too much for one community to provide A county may build a jail, or hospital for several towns Conflict: Economics – communities compete to attract new businesses Compete for federal money Zoning for factories, but pollution enters neighboring city.

Cooperation & Conflict: Local vs. State Work together to solve problems (EX: building a park over a garbage dump) Local governments carry out state programs State helps with local finance, law enforcement, health and education States license local government workers (public school teachers, doctors at public hospitals) Conflict: Disagreements on how money should be spent (Sewage plant: city wants one way, local governments wants a cheaper system) State law almost always wins

Cooperation & Conflict: Local vs. State vs. National Clean and stop pollution in the groundwater, lakes, and rivers across the nation FBI and local law enforcement work together for certain crimes/training/records Local problems are brought to national attention Conflict: Spending of grant money (national goal does not meet local needs) States decide which local governments receive the money