1. Local Governments In Georgia
Mrs. Kim West
8th Grade Georgia Studies
GPS: SS8CG5

2. Georgia Performance Standards
SS8CG5 The student will analyze the role of local governments in the state of Georgia.
a. Explain the origins, functions, purposes, and differences of county and city governments in Georgia.
b. Compare and contrast the weak mayor-council, the strong mayor-council, and the council-manager forms of city government.
c. Describe the functions of special-purpose governments.
d. Evaluate the role of local government working with state agencies to administer state programs.

3. Essential Questions
How are COUNTY governments organized and what is their role in supporting the needs of the citizens?
How are CITY governments organized and what is their role in supporting the needs of the citizens?
Why are special-purpose districts needed?

4. Local Governments in Georgia
Local governments are divided into 2 different jurisdictions in Georgia:
County Government (Ex. Rockdale)
City Government (Ex. Conyers)

5. County Government
Georgia has 159 counties, nearly 600 towns – each has a government.
County: subdivision of a state set up for certain governmental functions.
Counties were created to serve as districts for carrying out state laws and programs.

6. County Government
Each county has at least 1 representative in the Georgia General Assembly.
Today, Georgia’s counties serve several functions including providing:
courts of law
holding elections,
building and repairing county roads, and
administering social services programs.
Counties can also provide services such as:
police and fire protection (public safety),
libraries,
and public transportation.

7. County Government
• County government officials include: - Sheriff: enforces the law, maintains the peace, jailer. - Tax Commissioner: receives tax returns, maintains tax records, pays taxes. - Clerk of the Superior Court: primary record keeper for the county. - Judge of the Probate Court: oversees property deeds, marriage licenses, wills, and supervises elections. - County Commissioner/Board of Commissioners: power to adopt ordinances, daily operation of government.

8. Officials in County Government
Most counties have the following elected officials:
commissioners, superior court clerk, probate court judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, coroner
Many officials are appointed by the elected officials:
county clerk, fire chief, road supervisor, emergency management director, attorney, planning and building inspector, etc.
Larger counties have more officials.

9. City Government Municipality: a city with its own government
City receives charter from state legislature.
City charter explains what the city government can do:
police protection, maintain streets and sidewalks, license businesses, control traffic, provide water and sewerage
Some city charters allow for a city-run school system, for example Atlanta Public Schools.

10. Forms of City Government
Mayor-Council: most common in Georgia
elected council, elected mayor
weak-mayor system: mayor has little power, figurehead
strong-mayor system: mayor has power to run the city, propose budget, can veto council
Council-Manager
voters elect council members
mayor may be elected or appointed
council hires city manager for day-to-day operations of the city
City Commission
voters elect commissioners
commissioners form department heads of the city
mayor chosen by the commissioners

12. City-County Government
Some city and county governments merge when the region becomes more urban.
Can reduce the cost of government.
Examples:
Athens-Clarke County
Columbus-Muskogee County
Augusta-Richmond County
Savannah-Chatham County

13. Sharing Services Some city and county governments share services.
Fulton County is home to city of Atlanta.
Fulton County and city of Atlanta share zoning duties and library system.
Fulton and DeKalb counties share a hospital authority – Grady Hospital.
Fulton County and the City of Atlanta have separate school systems.

14. Special Purpose Disticts
Special purpose districts are government entities created to serve a specific function for the state or community.
The purpose of a special purpose district is to benefit the well-being of the people.
Each of these districts is usually headed by a governing board of non-elected officials.

15. Special Purpose Disticts
Examples of Special Purpose Districts:
school districts
MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
Georgia Ports Authority

16. Funding Local Government
Local governments (city and county) rely on several sources of revenue (income) also:
Sources of funding include state and federal grants and taxes on citizens
Ad Valorem Taxes: taxes paid based on the value of the property, such as cars
User Fees: paid by the user of the service
Sales Tax: added to purchases made in the city or county
General Purpose Local Option Sales Tax: tax for general use
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST): approved by voters, adds sales tax to fund special projects such as parks or schools
Bond Issues: a way for governments to borrow money; interest must be paid on the bonds