LOCAL GOVERNMENT Chapter 24

Local Government Local government is the level of government closest to the people a.)county, b.)the city, c.)town or village, and d.)special district. Types of local government include the a.)county, b.)the city, c.)town or village, and d.)special district. The United States has approximately 86,000 local forms of government

Section 1: Structure of Local Government Municipality (def) an urban unit of government Municipal governments are formed by consent of the state 3 types of municipal government include: Mayor-Council form Mayor-Council form Commission form Council-Manager form

Section 1 (cont’d) Mayor Council Form Mayor Council Form This is Hornell ! ½ the cities in the US use this form Voters elect both mayor and council Voters elect both mayor and council Each has duties and powers regarding hiring/firing, budget, city departments Each has duties and powers regarding hiring/firing, budget, city departments

Section 1: (cont’d) City of Hornell ( SAVE OUR HOSPITAL Our community is in danger of losing inpatient care at St. James Mercy Hospital. Community leaders and doctors have formed a committee to keep inpatient and maternity services at St. James. If you would like to help with this effort, you can click on this petition and gather the support of your friends, family and neighbors. Completed petitions should be returned to City Hall December 12. If you would like to get your organization involved, you can present this Resolution to your governing body for their support and then forward it to the Dept. of Health and your elected officials petitionResolution

City of Hornell Budget ,142, is appropriated 8,315, is expected in revenue A 1% tax levy is expected to bridge the gap The largest parts of the budget are public safety (approx 2.8 million) and general government (approx 2.7 million) General Gov’t includes contracts, retirement, insurance, social security, the library, ….

2010 Census Data Population Total Population 8,563 Population by Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 175 Non Hispanic or Latino 8,388 Population by Race White8,036 African American 195 Asian57 American Indian and Alaska Native 21 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 10 Other41 Identified by two or more 203

2010 Census Data

Section 2: Serving Localities Local governments provide basic services Education Education Fire and police protection Fire and police protection Water, sewage, and sanitation Water, sewage, and sanitation Trash collection Trash collection Libraries Libraries Recreation Recreation Zoning Zoning

Section 2 (cont’d) Property taxes Property taxes are the most important source of revenue for local governments Property taxes account for approximately 2/3 of all local tax revenues Property taxes are generally collected on land and buildings requiring local government to assess market values of said property

Steuben County Government Steuben County Government 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, New York (607) $183 million budget Steuben County is a non-charter County. The organization structure of County government has the County Electorate at the top. Voters elect eight constitutional officers, including three Judges, a District Attorney, a County Clerk, a County Treasurer, a Sheriff, and four Coroners. The voters also elect a seventeen-member County Legislature, representing thirteen Legislative Districts within the County. The County Legislature instituted the office of County Administrator in 1984 to aid in the day-to-day administration of County government, something which is no longer feasible for part-time legislators in a County of almost 100,000 people and a $183 million budget.

City of Hornell /Steuben County Hornell is District 1 in Steuben County Hornell has 2 legislators elected to Steuben County government The 2010 population of Hornell was 8,563 Hornell’s Steuben County legislators are: Gary Swackhamer (R) Randy Weaver (D)

Section 3: Challenges to Local Governments Housing & Urban Development Housing & Urban Development Decisions on homes, industry, stores or offices provide for growth Localities try to provide for growth Hornell  Lowe’s, Adsit House Renovation & revitalization concerns Renovation & revitalization concerns

Section 3: Challenges (cont’d) Infrastructure Infrastructure Bridges Bridges  over 41% of bridges nationwide need repair; many are deteriorating faster than they can be repaired Airports, highways, transit Airports, highways, transit Snow removal Snow removal

Section 3: Challenges (cont’d) Social Problems Social Problems Drug abuse Drug abuse Poverty Poverty Unemployment Unemployment * Local governments must be more than aware of these problems; they must try to alleviate them! * Local governments must be more than aware of these problems; they must try to alleviate them!

Steuben County Budget Steuben County spent over $900,000 on salt in 2012 for county and state roads.

Conclusion closest Local Government is that which is closest to the people vital It provides those services which are most vital to citizens responsive It is most responsive to the needs of citizens