1. Local Government NC
Unit 4

2. County Government
Local governments are established by state governments.
All counties provide services for their citizens.
County board has legislative powers.
Collect revenue through property tax and sales tax.
Have executive power to enforce laws (Inspectors).

3. The Board of County Commissioners
The board of county commissioners has general responsibility of county government
James A. Hill, Vice-Chairman
Brenda A. Howerton, Commissioner
Heidi Carter, Commissioner
Ellen W. Reckhow, Commissioner
Wendy Jacobs, Chair
Under the 1868 NC Constitution, voters in each county began to elect a board of county commissioners, replacing “justices of the peace” appointed by the governor

4. Commissioner Responsibilities
Setting local property tax rate
Adopting the county budget
Passing ordinances, resolutions, and orders to establish county policies
Appointing a county clerk to keep official records of the board’s meetings and decisions
Clerks also publish notices, conduct research, and provide information to citizens about county government

5. Shared Authority
Unlike a city or town governing board, the board of county commissioners shares authority for setting county policy with other officials:
State officials
The Sheriff
The Register of Deeds
The Clerk of Court
Independent County Boards
NC state law provides for 6 separate independent boards in counties with responsibility for alcoholic beverage control, public education, elections, public health, mental health, social services
Independent boards in NC counties appoint directors for their agencies and make local policies regarding agency operations

6. Independent Boards: (1) Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
Ensures that the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages is handled in a responsible and controlled manner
Ensures that purchases are made by only those who are legally entitled
Provides education and information on alcohol-related issues

7. (2) Board of Education
Local boards of education are made up of officials, elected at the school district level, that:
Manage the budget for operating schools
Set school calendars
Make decisions about textbooks and other school-related matters

8. (3) Board of Elections Registers voters
Maintains voter registration records
Reports elections results to state board of elections
Files candidates
Conducts elections

9. (4) Public Health Regulates restaurant cleanliness
Educates people about health issues
Provides shots to prevent illness
Cares for the ill who cannot afford to care for themselves

10. (5) Mental Health Services
Provide psychiatric services for county residents
Provide treatment for substance abusers
Provide schools and education services for the mentally challenged

11. (6) Social Services
Provide assistance to county residents with low incomes
Help children through foster care, adoption, and counseling programs
Administer the federal food stamp program
Independent boards DO NOT have the authority to levy taxes. Funds to support independent board services must be raised by the board of county commissioners.
Also, all independent board budgets must be approved by the board of county commissioners
For the reasons listed above, the board of county commissioners has the potential to influence all county programs that depend on county money, including even the schools, which operate as separate administrative units

12. County Officials
Sheriff: Law enforcement. Keeps peace and manages the jail.
District attorney: Investigates crime and prosecutes in court.
Coroner: Establishes the cause of death.
County clerk: Keeps official records.
Assessor: Determines the value of property for tax purposes.
Register of Deeds: maintaining public recordsand documents

13. City Government Must get a charter from the state government.
NC does not have Home Rule - this would allow them to write their own charters.

14. Mayor-Council Government
Separate legislative (city council) and executive (mayor) branches.
There are strong and weak mayor plans.
Strong Mayor – the mayor has appointment powers
Weak Mayor – the city council has appointment powers

15. City Council – City Manager
Voters elect a city council.
City manager runs the city. Appointed by the city council.

16. Community Problems
Public Policy: Decision that effect people. They can come from lawmakers, citizens, interest groups, and the media.
Must plan for the future. Involves educated guessing.
Short term: Decisions effecting the next few years.
Long term: Decisions effecting the next fifty years.
Must have priorities and evaluate resources.
Communities develop a master plan of goals.

17. Zoning A zoning board decides what land will be used for.
Different zones for residential, business, and public land.
Provides a map for the community.

18. Annexation
State laws allow cities to annex property so they can provide essential services to urbanized areas in an orderly and efficient way.
Municipalities must provide annexed areas with services such as police and fire protection, water and sewer lines, recreation, solid waste collection and street maintenance.

19. Education and Housing
Education is the most expensive service provided by state and local governments.
Vouchers: Help parents send children to private schools.
Urban renewal: Re-building old neighborhoods.
The government provides low income housing.

20. Shortages and Pollution
Many places have shortages on power and water.
Conservation: Using less of our resources.
Disposing of garbage is a problem (landfills).
Recycling: Using old materials to produce new ones.

21. Federal Aid to the States
Spending is roughly related to population of the state (from census numbers)
Additional demographic questions to find out how many children (education), minorities (grants for minorities), and population density (highways)

22. Types of Aid
Categorical Grants – funds for some specific closely defined purpose.
Ex: Like money for school lunches
Usually have strings attached
Block Grants – funds for much more broadly defined purposes
Fewer strings attached, more freedom for state/local to decide how to spend money
Project Grants – funds for specific organizations or governmental bodies
Ex: For research, job training programs, etc.

23. State and Local Voting Procedures
Initiative – A means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote.
Referendum - A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to vote on a particular proposal.
Proposition - A ballot measure to be approved or rejected by eligible voters.