1. Warm-up
Which part of municipal government is always elected by the people?
Which position is sometimes elected and sometimes appointed?
Name one service that the county (but not the city) provides.

2. County Government
Unit 4

3. The Board of County Commissioners
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
The board of county commissioners has general responsibility of county government
Elected during general elections (even numbered years) with other NC positions
2014 voter turnout= 67% in Durham

4. Commissioner’s 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 decision, to publish notices, to conduct research, and to 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. State Officials
The General Assembly and various state agencies are often directly involved in setting policy for county governments through mandates that require the county to provide certain services or follow specific procedures

7. Sheriff, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Court
As elected officials, the sheriff, register of deeds, and clerk or court have authority independent of the board of county commissioners…
The sheriff is responsible for law enforcement
The register of deeds is responsible for maintaining records of real estate ownership and other vital records
The clerk of court is responsible for all administrative, clerical and record-keeping functions of the district and superior court.
Vital records = including marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and business licenses
In addition, the Clerk receives and disburses money collected each year from court fees and fines.

8. 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

9. (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

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

11. (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

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

13. Work First Family Assistance
(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
Work First Family Assistance
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

14. Durham County (FY 2016)
Total Expenses: $376,215, 305
Education: $130,191,507 (32.84%)
Public Safety: 57,309,107 (14.45%)
Human Services (public health, mental health, and social services): $95,523,012 (22.51%)
Board of Elections: $2,636,116
General Government (minus elections): $60,303,154 (24.65%)
Transportation: $12,500 (0%)
Environmental Protection: $4,300,471 (.98%)
Economic & Physical Development: $6,238,585 (1.53%)
Cultural & Recreational: $12,994,407 (3.03%)
Source:

15. Clover County Commissioners
Clover recently received a $6 million dollar community improvement grant from a private foundation, and that as a community, we must now determine how to allocate the funds based on the county’s needs. And who controls the budget process at the county level? The commissioners! Today, you will be participating in a meeting of the Clover County Board of Commissioners, as a commissioner, where a decision is made on how to allocate the $6 million.
Get in your own groups (committees) of 4-5. Analyze the proposals by making a pro-con list (aka a cost-benefit analysis) for each proposal and try to come to a consensus on which option to pick. If you can’t come to a consensus, have a vote and the majority will win out. Then, have each group tell the class why they made their decision and have all people vote individually.

16. The Process- Citizen Groups
Develop a presentation to the Board of Commissioners attempting to convince them to allocate funding to your desired community improvement
Your goal is to create an organized, motivational presentation that argues why money is necessary to accomplish your interest group’s goals and desires
Be prepared to speak on why the other groups should not receive their financial requests

17. 12/8 Warm-up In the next 5 minutes… -review who’s speaking about what
-get your thoughts together
-ask any questions of your team or me before we begin

18. Rules of Order
Remain respectful at all times and encourage one another.
Try your best, and take the simulation seriously.
Listen when others are speaking. Do not discuss your presentation while other groups are presenting.
Maintain order and professionalism throughout the hearing, whether you agree with what is begin said or not.
No name calling, eye rolling, smacking teeth, disruptive comments, etc.
Have fun!

19. Clover County Board of Commissioners Meeting
What
Who
Time
Opening and Call to order
Chairman
1 minute
Presentation
Clover County School District
Up to 4 minutes
Follow-up questions
Commissioners
2 minutes
Health Alliance
Recreation Department
Friends of Clover County Animals
Chair leads open deliberation
Board of Commissioners
Up to 5 minutes

20. Debrief What is your opinion of the Board’s decision? Explain.
Commissioners, what led you to make the decisions you made? What factors influenced you?
What was difficult about this situation and decision?
Are any of these issues actually issues in your own county? Explain.
Imagine this decision was made by your own Board of Commissioners for implementation in your own county. Would you support it? Why or why not?

21. Debrief
Why is it important to consider what the opposite view might be when preparing a presentation for a Board of Commissioners?
If you were actually serving on a board, what other factors might influence you that were not necessarily represented in this activity?
Why is the work of your county commissioners, and county government in general, so important to each of us?
Given this importance, do you think most people are involved in county government as they should be? Why or why not?

22. Why do you think voter turnout is so low in local (county and municipality) elections?
Recent voter turnout in municipal elections is less than 11% in Durham
Do you trust your local government? Why or why not?
Is there anything you or your local government officials could do to increase your trust in local government?
Do you think people have a jaded view of government because they only hear about when things go wrong?
Do you think you would care about your local government more if information about what was going on was more readily available?
Why might homeownership impact a person’s level of engagement in local politics?
Do you follow your local government departments, officials, etc. on social media?