1. Civics Unit 8
Local Government

2. I. Counties Gov’t Structure
Largest subdivision in NC (100 counties in NC)
County seat- center of gov’t

3. County commissioners- governing legislature
Elected by voters
Pass ordinances- laws passed by local gov’t
Support public schools
School board- determine educational policy
Superintendent- executive of school system

4. Other county elected officials
Sheriff- runs jail, county law enforcement
Clerk- registers documents
Treasurer- keeps and manages county funds
District attorney- prosecutes criminal cases
Assessor- sets property values, taxes
Coroner- (Medical Examiner) investigates suspicious deaths

5. II. Municipalities Creating municipalities
Municipalities- smaller units of gov’t (cities, towns, villages)
Each city, town, village incorporated into state
Have a charter- basic rules of gov’t
Rights given by state

6. Cities expand borders through annexation- adding to city limits
Zoning- divide a city into zones (residential, commercial, industrial)
Metropolitan areas- cities and the areas around them (ex: Charlotte, Matthews, Concord, etc)

7. Government structure
City council- local legislature
Mayor- elected chief executive
Council-Manager form of city gov’t
Strong city council
Mayor is chairman of council, mostly ceremonial duties
City manager hired by council for day-to-day gov’t operations
City council makes laws

8. Mayor-Council form of city gov’t
Mayor is strong, not a member of council, runs gov’t
City council makes laws
Model for large cities
Cities like Chicago & NYC, not Charlotte

9. Initiative-People petition a law to get on the ballot (at the local level).
Goes on the ballot
If voters say “yes”, It’s a law
Recall-a vote to remove someone from their political position, or the act of being removed by a vote (Not here in NC).

10. The referendum- legislative measure referred to the voters.
Mandatory referendum= measure must go to the voters (a way to propose constitutional amendments in NC)
Optional referendum= goes to voters voluntarily (lawmakers do not want to take responsibly for it becoming a law) (at the local level)

11. “Revenues, Taxes, and Expenditures”
Civics 10.04
“Revenues, Taxes, and Expenditures”

12. I. Revenue Sources
Federal Grants-in-Aid- federal money goes to state and local governments (usually for specific projects)
Intergovernmental Revenue- money from one level of gov’t to another (federal-state, state-county or city)

13. Municipal Bonds- loans issued by state and local gov’ts to build highways, libraries, parks, schools, etc
may raise taxes to pay back
voters vote on bonds

14. Other sources
Fees- developers to use local service, use of utilities
Fines- punishment for violations
Licenses- grant permission (hunt, marriage, etc)
Permits- grant permission (construction project)
Tolls- roads, bridges
Lotteries- most states allow

15. II. Taxes
Sales Tax- primary state tax (4.75% in NC) % in Mecklenburg County
easy to collect, dependable
regressive- people pay same amount
State Income Tax- income of individuals and corporations
progressive- more income, higher percentage

16. Property Tax- biggest source of local money
real property- land, buildings, etc
personal property- cars, boats, jewelry
Excise Taxes- tax on specific good or service (ex: cigarette tax)
Estate Tax- tax on estate of someone who died.

17. NC Revenue

18. III. Expenditures NC is legally required to have a balanced budget
Education- most expensive expenditure
local taxes provide much funding
states set curricula, graduation req., pay for teachers

19. Public Safety- law enforcement and corrections system
Highways and Roads- speed limits, licenses, inspections
Welfare- for low income citizens, health care for poor children ( insurance for low income children), Medicaid, and food stamps.
Other- Gov’t buildings, hospitals, libraries, parks

20. NC General Fund Operating Budget

21. NC’s fiscal year is from July 1 – June 30
Our budget:
two-year (biennial) budget.
Must balance (no deficit)
Begins with Governor’s proposal
debated & passed by the General Assembly
signed into law or vetoed by governor