Local Government Structure and Functions in Georgia
Local government in Georgia comprises county and city governments, each with distinct origins, functions, and roles. Counties serve as districts to implement state laws, with elected commissioners overseeing policies, ordinances, budgets, and services. Cities operate under different forms of government like weak mayor-council, strong mayor-council, or council-manager, each defining roles between the council and mayor. Special-purpose governments fulfill specific functions, and local governments collaborate with state agencies to administer programs effectively.
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Local Government SSGC5: The student will analyze the role of local governments in the state of Georgia a. a. Explain the origins, functions, purposes, and differences of county ad 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.
The Three Forms of Local Governments Counties Cities Special Districts
Counties Counties were created by the state legislature to serve a districts for carrying out state laws and programs.
The County Governing Body The county government is led by its county board of commissioners Commissioners are elected by county voters and serve 4 year terms County Governments are set up to complete: 1. County Policies 2. Adopt county ordinances (laws) 3. Determine the county s budget and tax rates 4. Provide county services
County voters also elect: 1. The Sheriff 2. The Tax Commissioner 3. The Clerk of the Superior Court 4. The Judge of the Probate Court The County Commissioners appoint a county administrator, county manager, or a Chairman of the Board who will carry out day-to-day operations of the government. Paulding County s Chairman of the Board: David Austin
City Governments Cities are established by a charter from the state legislature because people living in that area want certain services that the county does not provide such as: Police protection Business licenses Street maintenance Traffic control Water and sewer systems Municipality- A city operating its own government
Three Types of City Governments Strong- Mayor- Council Weak- Mayor- Council Council- Manager System Mayor-Council: Divides the power between an elected city council and an elected mayor Council= Passes laws (city s legislative branch) Mayor=Enforces the laws passed by the council and has the power of veto (city s chief executive )
Three Types of City Government Strong Strong- -Mayor Council Council Mayor has a great deal of power and influence over the council Mayor- - Weak Weak- -Mayor Council Council Mayor- - Council Council- -Manager Manager Council makes laws and policies City manager (hired by council) oversees day- to-day city operations and appoints heads of city departments Department heads report to city manager who reports to council Mayor s powers are very limited Rarely gets veto power Mayor is more of a figurehead
City and county governments are general of local government meaning they exist for many different reasons. general- -purpose purpose forms Special Purpose Special Purpose Districts Districts The 3rd type of local government Set up by the legislature of a city or county ordinance for a single purpose There are two types of Special Purpose Districts School School Districts Districts Special Special Districts Districts
School Districts State and federal governments provide money and make rules for public education Local school districts are in charge of the day-to-day responsibilities for running the schools Each school district has is own elected school board which decides: what the budget budget should be. where the schools should be built. should be built. sets the curriculum curriculum. hires the superintendent superintendent to run the schools. to run the schools.
Special Districts Special Districts provide a necessary services. Usually has the power to tax. Run by a governing board which may be elected or appointed. Provide such services as: Fire Protection Ambulance Services Libraries Transportation (Ex. MARTA) College Police Departments
Advantages Advantages Offer efficient way to Offer efficient way to respond to an urgent respond to an urgent problem problem Can readily borrow Can readily borrow money for its projects money for its projects They can charge fees to They can charge fees to users and raise money to users and raise money to pay back the funds pay back the funds borrows borrows Allows local governments Allows local governments to provide a service to provide a service without having to raise without having to raise taxes taxes Disadvantages Disadvantages Usually don t receive Usually don t receive any publicity and their any publicity and their governing boards are governing boards are rarely elected which rarely elected which means they may not means they may not be responsive to be responsive to public opinion public opinion If there are too many If there are too many of them (each serving of them (each serving their own purpose) their own purpose) they may not work they may not work well with each other well with each other
Tax Revenue Revenue- money that the government makes Revenue Georgia s General Assembly determines how revenue will be collected. The Department of Revenue is a state executive agency which administers and collects most of the state s revenue. The Governor is the state s budget director.
Tax Revenue Main source of tax revenue for Georgia: State: State: Income tax and sales Income tax and sales tax tax Local: Local: Property and sales Property and sales tax tax Different revenue sources: Taxes Taxes Fees Fees Lottery funds Lottery funds
Tax Revenue Different revenue sources: Taxes Fees Lottery funds Lottery funds Main source of tax revenue for Georgia: State: State: Income tax and sales Income tax and sales Taxes Fees tax tax Local: Local: Property and sales Property and sales tax tax
Where does our state spend the money it collects?
Where does our state spend the money it collects?
Local Government Ticket out the Door Your city has decided to investigate the possibility of changing its form of government. You are a concerned citizen and you want what is best for your town but you know little about the various forms of city government. Being a good citizen, you decide to investigate the three major forms of city government because you want to know enough to speak at the open meeting scheduled to give citizens the chance to state their views on the possible change. The three forms of city government are: Weak-Mayor Council Strong-Mayor Council Council Manager or City Manager In one paragraph defend the type of government you think Dallas, Georgia should have. When supporting your decision, you need to also address why you decided against the other two forms. (Make sure you consider the number of positions within each type, what type would work best in large cities and/or small towns, and the possible cost of running such a government.)
