Local Government

Local Government Has the most direct impact on our lives State gives it permission to exist City and Village Government- Creatures of Michigan Legislature Local governments are considered agents of the state - carry out functions and duties of state government - extension of state government Local units have restrictive constitutional power (can do things that only effect them)

County Government Counties are the oldest unit of local government Distance to the county seat set the boundaries for each county (i.e.- Mt. Clemens is county seat for Macomb county because a wagon ride away)

County Government Major unit of government below the state U.S. counties employ approximately 2 million people for day-to-day work Structure of counties: Governing Board Elected Officials (Ex. Sheriff), garbage, police, water, roads Board- group of people manage the business of an organization

County government Local Government in Michigan General purpose governments Counties (83) Townships (1,242) 1,118 general law 124 charter townships Cities (271) Villages (259)

Township Government Subdivision of county Usually Rural Structure County but smaller Function roads, parks, zoning, services to people

Special Districts Independent units created to perform one job at the local level Can cross county or city lines Examples: School District Water District

Local government Local Government in Michigan (cont) Special Purpose Governments K-12 School Districts (557) Intermediate School Districts (57) Community College Districts (28) Authorities (300) Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sewer, Water, Downtown Development, Airport, Harbor

County govenment Primary Local Units - Townships and Cities Shared duties required by State Assessing property- for buying or selling house, land Collecting property taxes for the county, township or city, and schools State education tax Conducting elections (county, state and national elections) Making laws or ordinances- that’s why laws are different in certain places

City Government Charter is the city’s basic law or constitution Unicameral- one elected body Typically Nonpartisan- not fully affiliated with one party( democrat or republican 3 Main Structures

Strong Mayor Council: Voters elect mayor and council Mayor Appoints Dept. Heads Mayor Has Veto Power over City Council Large Cities

Weak Mayor Council Voters elect mayor and council City Council hires administrators Mayor has no veto power Represents City Ex: Sterling Heights, Warren

Council Manager Voters elect a council Council hires a Manager Manager hires the administrators Found in Suburbs- Chesterfield, Shelby Township

City Government Provide Services Police/Fire Protection Street Maintenance Sewer and Water Parks and Recreation Can own businesses Employ Millions throughout U.S.

City government Cities boundaries are set by state This explains why Detroit is so big compared to other major cities

City government Political machines- cities who set their government up to get re-elected. They do favors for the person in power and in return the person in power helps them out by giving them contracts for city work (i.e.- corruption) Kwame Kilpatrick- former mayor of Detroit

Financing State and Local Sales Taxes (Regressive Tax)- stays the same Income Taxes (Progressive Tax)- changes with income Property Taxes- pay to schools, roads etc. License Fees- to build, tear down Borrowing Must “Balance the Books” unlike Congress Use of parking fines, tolls Bonds- cities will sell bonds (you give $1000, they pay you back $1200 in 10 years

Local government Local governemnt provides Utilities Utilities- services needed by Public Local government provides services and builds things with revenue collected

Local governemnt Skateboarding is a problem in Downtown Mt. Clemens. City decides to build a skate park so skateboarders aren’t using public places to skate They ban skateboarding in downtown (ordinace-local law) This is known as public policy- (effects people)

Local government Education: Cities regulate schools by how much taxes they collect (i.e. L’Anse Creuse versus Detroit Public) more taxes collected better schools built Determine what is best for schools Fraser has I-pads, LC does not

Local government Cities monitor health and public safety Health inspector- food, motels, are monitored for safety Safety- Police, Fire, 911 service Water and sewage treatment Welfare- Jobcorps, manpower, low income housing

Zoning laws Each town or city has to divide area by zones Zoning local rules that divide a community into areas and tell how land can be used (i.e.- factories, houses, malls)

Grants Cities will get state and federal grants (money specifically for something) to update roads, schools, and buildings Examples: NSA- airports “No child left behind”- federal government gives money to schools who perform better on tests, take away money if they do worse