1. Unit 5: Local Government

2. The First Five December 6, 2013 Agenda Message: Unit 5 Quiz on Wednesday Today’s Warm-up: What type of services does Douglas County and the cities of Douglasville provide to you each week?

3. Local Government Many of the day-to-day services that you use are provided by local government. Examples: Examples: Police and Fire Departments, roads, road signs, and traffic lights Local government focuses on the needs of the citizens, and their services are based on available funds (taxes). Voters elect the officials who run county and city governments.

4. County Government The county that you live in has a county seat (oldest city in the county), which has government offices and courts located there. Most money that county governments need in order to operate come from: 1.Funds from the federal & state governments 2.Taxes & fees from local residents A. Property Taxes: Taxes paid on the value of land and buildings owned by people. B. Sales Taxes: Taxes paid on purchases & services C. Special Purpose Taxes: Taxes that pay for special projects (build new schools, jails, road, etc.) D. Fees: Fines & penalties, licenses, and permits County commissioners set the policies and ordinances (laws/rules) in counties.

5. County Government Counties are subdivisions of the state set up to carry out certain government functions. County Tax dollars cover your local: County administration Police (sheriff) Construction and maintenance of roads and bridges Medical care for elderly and children who cannont afford care

6. Board of Commissioners Elected to 4 year terms (staggered) They have the authority to establish county policy, adopt county ordinances (laws) establish a budget, tax rates, and provide services to citizens. (ex: requests to build parks or walking trails)

7. City Government Cities in Georgia have one of three forms of government: 1.Weak Mayor-Council: The elected city council has more power than the mayor. 2.Strong Mayor-Council: The elected mayor is the city’s chief executive officer and is responsible for seeing that they city’s laws are carried out and each departments do their jobs. 3.Council-Manager: A city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city. The elected officials balance the needs of the city’s residents against the money available. They work to provide as many services as possible to the residents.

8. Douglas County, Georgia County Seat is Douglasville Created in 1875 Named in honor of U.S. Senator and Vice President of the Confederate States of America (during the Civil War), Stephen Douglas. 17 th largest county in Georgia 133 rd county created in Georgia

9. Douglas County, Georgia Mayor Harvey Persons Sheriff Phil Miller

10. Douglas County, Georgia council-manager The City of Douglasville has a council-manager form of government. This means that the Board of Commissioners sets policy, and the city manager’s office oversees the day-to-day operations of the city. The city manager's responsibilities include: 1.Carrying out the commission’s policies 2.Hiring, terminating, and supervising government staff 3.Preparing a budget 4.Serving as the commission’s chief advisor City Manager William D. Osborne

11. Douglas County, Georgia Board of Commissioners The citizens of Douglas County are represented by seven commissioners, city manager, and a mayor. http://www.ci.douglasville.ga.us/index.aspx?NID=63

12. Douglas County, Georgia Chief of Police, Chris Womack Douglas County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Gordon Pritz

13. Douglas County, Georgia School Board Members A five member elected board governs the Douglas County School System. The Douglas County Board of Education is charged with the power of authority to maintain, finance, and make policies to govern the public schools within its jurisdiction. The superintendent is appointed by the board and is charged with the responsibility of administering the public school program of the Douglas County Board of Education. It is a special purpose type of government Carol Lindstrom D.T. Jackson Janet KelleyDr. Sam Haskell Jeff Morris

14. 3-2-1 Response Who are 3 board member of the Douglas County School System? What are 2 services that Douglas County provides for its citizens? What is the 1 way that state and local governments raise money?