County and City Government SS8cg5a & SS8cg5b

County and City Government Main Idea: Local Government Notes: Local governments are the most common and numerous types of government found in the U.S.. The State of Georgia has 159 counties and each county has a government. In addition, there are about 600 cities in Georgia—each with its own government.

County and City Government Main Idea: Local Government Notes: Not only are local governments the most numerous, they are also the closest to the people and the most likely to affect people directly. Local governments get their powers and right to exist from the Georgia State Constitution.

County and City Government Main Idea: County Government Notes: Counties are subdivisions of the state set up to carry out certain governmental functions. The state constitution sets out county powers. These include: the power to tax, police and legal systems, construction and maintenance of roads/bridges, public health, medical help for those who cannot afford it, assistance to dependent children, parks and libraries, and public education.

County and City Government Main Idea: County Government Notes: The state constitution also requires that all county governments be uniform (organized the same way). However, the General Assembly may, in any county, establish commissioners of roads and revenues, consolidates the offices of tax receiver and tax collector into the office of tax commissioner, and abolish (get rid of) the office of treasurer. Most counties are headed by elected Boards of Commissioners.

County and City Government Main Idea: County Government Notes: The commissioners are elected by the voters for four-year, staggered terms. The Board of Commissioners has the authority to establish county policies, adopt county ordinances (laws), establish the county budget, establish tax rates, and provide services for the citizens of the county. Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman: Richard Oden

County and City Government Main Idea: County Government Notes: Based on population, each county has a different number of officials. Most counties have at least the following elected officials: commissioners, clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, tax commissioner, sheriff, coroner.

County and City Government Main Idea: County Government Notes: Most county officials are appointed rather than elected. Examples of some appointed county officials include: county clerks, attorneys, tax assessors, emergency management services directors, fire chiefs, planning and building inspectors, registrars, road supervisors, animal control officers, surveyors, and environmentalists.

County and City Government Main Idea: City Government Notes: A city with its own government is called a municipality. A city exists as a political unit when it receives a charter from the state legislature. To be chartered as a city, an area must meet 3 requirements: (1) It must have at least 200 residents, (2) It must be located at least three miles from the boundaries of the nearest city, (3) It must have 60% of its land divided in to tracts of land or being used for residential, business, industrial, institutional, or government purposes.

County and City Government Main Idea: City Government Notes: A city government can do only what its charter authorizes it to do (a city charter is a bit like a constitution). For example most city charters allow cities to provide police protection, license businesses, maintain streets and sidewalks, control traffic, and provide water and sewage services.

County and City Government Main Idea: Consolidated Government Notes: Some counties provide services outside of incorporated municipalities for such things as water, sewage, sanitation, and fire protection. As long as city and county governments provide different services in the same area, they do not get in each other’s way. However, as a county becomes more urban, city and county governments may provide the same services to the same people.

County and City Government Main Idea: Consolidated Government Notes: One way to avoid overlapping services is to form one “city-county government” which will provide all services working both at the city and county level.