Local Government Page 65

County Government There are 114 Counties in Missouri. Counties must carry out State policies: enforcing laws, providing police, prosecuting offenders, building and maintaining roads, keeping records, conducting elections, assessing property, collecting taxes. Counties also provide; Public Health, Licensing, Land Control. Also, hospitals, parks and libraries. Counties are run by Commissions: generally three people Other that help: clerks, sheriff, recorder of deeds, treasurer, assessor, prosecuting attorney, coroner, collector of revenue. St Louis is the only exception to this State Policy.

Townships Each county is divided into townships. Townships are general-purpose local governments. They assess property, collect taxes for schools and the county. They conduct elections for National, State, and Local elections. The Governing Board usually includes a supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and four board members. elected for four-year terms. They carry out the same duties as Counties, but smaller scale.

Special-Purpose Districts These provide a single function or job. They include School Districts Local Libraries Fire Districts Park Districts Hospital, Sanitary (Trash), Transit (bus) Districts

Home Rule The 1945 Constitution gave special power to some areas to determine their own needs and they are subject to the State Constitution. These areas can make decisions and make quick corrections to problems they may encounter. All other Counties, Townships, Cities, Villages must rely on the General Assembly to make changes they need in their local governments.

The Census Every ten years the Federal Government counts the citizens of our country. The Government uses this information to determine the boundaries of different districts in the Nation. This is called reapportionment. Local governments use this to redraw School Districts, hospital zones, roads, and more.