Local Governments both BIG and small A look at Arizona’s Governmental bodies and responsibilities.

Local Governments Local Governments both both

BIGBIG andand smallsmall

A look at Arizona’s Governmental bodies A look at Arizona’s Governmental bodies and responsibilitiesand responsibilities

GovernorGovernor

• Jan BrewerJan Brewer• finished out finished out

Napolitano’s 2nd Napolitano’s 2nd termterm

• elected in Nov. ’10 elected in Nov. ’10 to serve her 1to serve her 1stst full full termterm

• commander in chiefcommander in chief• leader of executive leader of executive

departmentdepartment– veto/sign bills from veto/sign bills from

AZ legislatureAZ legislature

• pardons, reprievespardons, reprieves

Secretary of State Secretary of State

• Ken BennettKen Bennett• finished Brewer’s finished Brewer’s

termterm• elected in Nov. ’10 elected in Nov. ’10

to serve 1to serve 1stst full term full term

• 11stst in line of in line of succession succession

• runs elections for runs elections for our stateour state

• can fill in for can fill in for governorgovernor

State TreasurerState Treasurer

• Doug DuceyDoug Ducey• 11stst term term

• chief financial chief financial officerofficer

• receipts, receipts, safekeeping, safekeeping, investment and investment and distribution of state distribution of state moniesmonies

Attorney GeneralAttorney General

• Tom HorneTom Horne• 11stst term term

• promote justicepromote justice• enforce lawsenforce laws

Superintendent of Public Superintendent of Public InstructionInstruction

• John HuppenthalJohn Huppenthal• 1st term1st term

• in charge of public in charge of public educationeducation

• AIMS testAIMS test

City GovernmentCity Government

Mayor and City CouncilMayor and City Council• Mesa operates under a charter form of Mesa operates under a charter form of

government with citizens electing a government with citizens electing a mayor and 6 council members to set mayor and 6 council members to set policy for the Citypolicy for the City

• Council members serve four year termsCouncil members serve four year terms• three members elected every two yearsthree members elected every two years• Mayor is elected at large every four yearsMayor is elected at large every four years• Vice mayor selected by city councilVice mayor selected by city council

City ManagerCity Manager• appointed by city councilappointed by city council• serves as chief operating officer of the serves as chief operating officer of the

CityCity• implements policies established by city implements policies established by city

councilcouncil• coordinates all city departmentscoordinates all city departments• prepares city’s annual operating and prepares city’s annual operating and

capital budgetcapital budget• develops management policies and develops management policies and

proceduresprocedures

City LeadershipCity Leadership

• Mayor Mayor • Scott SmithScott Smith

• City ManagerCity Manager• Christopher BradyChristopher Brady

Maricopa County AttorneyMaricopa County Attorney

• responsible for prosecuting criminal responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in the countycases in the county

• elected position every four yearselected position every four years

• Bill MontgomeryBill Montgomery

Maricopa Sheriff Maricopa Sheriff

• elected every four elected every four yearsyears

• no term limitsno term limits• law enforcementlaw enforcement

• Joe ArpaioJoe Arpaio

Understanding Understanding Local Government Local Government

What is Local Government?What is Local Government?

• Uses tax revenuesUses tax revenues

• Has own governing body (usually elected)Has own governing body (usually elected)

What do local governments do for What do local governments do for YOU?YOU?

• Provide a wide range of programs and Provide a wide range of programs and servicesservices

What does local government What does local government do for you?do for you?

Where would you go to…Where would you go to…– Have your name changedHave your name changed– Get a birth certificate or marriage licenseGet a birth certificate or marriage license– Obtain a building permitObtain a building permit– Deal with a sewer or drainage problemDeal with a sewer or drainage problem– Get an immunizationGet an immunization– Register to voteRegister to vote– Obtain records of property ownershipObtain records of property ownership

History and structure History and structure of local governmentof local government

* Boundaries may cross city, township and village lines* Boundaries may cross city, township and village lines

** Boundaries are within the township** Boundaries are within the township

*** Boundaries may include more than one county*** Boundaries may include more than one county

Local GovernmentsLocal GovernmentsOverlapping BoundariesOverlapping Boundaries

CityCity

School Dist.*School Dist.*

Township*Township***Intermediate School Intermediate School Dist.***Dist.***

County

Local Government Powers Local Government Powers

Granted existence by state constitutionGranted existence by state constitution– Political subdivisions of the statesPolitical subdivisions of the states– No inherent right to existenceNo inherent right to existence– Power of local governments rests Power of local governments rests

largely with provisions, interpretations largely with provisions, interpretations of state constitutions.of state constitutions.

Two Sides of the Argument Two Sides of the Argument of Local vs. state controlof Local vs. state control

Dillon's Dillon's RuleRule

Cooley Cooley DoctrineDoctrine

Home Rule ConceptHome Rule Concept

• Most forcefully argued by Thomas Cooley Most forcefully argued by Thomas Cooley (MI Supreme Court) in late 1800’s(MI Supreme Court) in late 1800’s

• Grants discretionary authority to local Grants discretionary authority to local governments over “local affairs”governments over “local affairs”

• Local government is a matter of absolute Local government is a matter of absolute right to citizens, cannot be taken away by right to citizens, cannot be taken away by statestate

Creatures of the State (No Creatures of the State (No Home Rule)Home Rule)

• Dillion’s Rule (Iowa Supreme Court)Dillion’s Rule (Iowa Supreme Court)

• Local governments possess no Local governments possess no inherent sovereignty unless expressly inherent sovereignty unless expressly implied by state lawimplied by state law

• Local governments owe their very Local governments owe their very existence to the stateexistence to the state

Trenton v. New Jersey 1923 Trenton v. New Jersey 1923 (U.S. Supreme Court)(U.S. Supreme Court)

• In the absence of state constitutional provisions In the absence of state constitutional provisions safeguarding it to them, municipalities have no safeguarding it to them, municipalities have no inherent right of self-government which is inherent right of self-government which is beyond the legislative control of the state. A beyond the legislative control of the state. A municipality is merely a department of the state, municipality is merely a department of the state, and the state may withhold, grant or withdraw and the state may withhold, grant or withdraw powers and privileges as it sees fit. However powers and privileges as it sees fit. However great or small its sphere of action, it remains the great or small its sphere of action, it remains the creature of the state exercising and holding creature of the state exercising and holding powers and privileges subject to the sovereign powers and privileges subject to the sovereign will. will.

““Local Control”Local Control”

• Local control is constantly evolvingLocal control is constantly evolving– Subject to legislative agenda, courts Subject to legislative agenda, courts

• Locals have power to act unless prohibited Locals have power to act unless prohibited by legislature, constitutionby legislature, constitution

• Legislature has provided:Legislature has provided:– Examples: home rule authority; planning and Examples: home rule authority; planning and

zoning authorityzoning authority

Focus on county Focus on county government, townships, government, townships,

and citiesand cities

Grand Design of Local Gov’tGrand Design of Local Gov’t

• Counties would serve as outposts of Counties would serve as outposts of state government “agent of the state”state government “agent of the state”

• Cities would provide for the urban Cities would provide for the urban populationpopulation

• Townships provide basic services for Townships provide basic services for rural residents (assessing, collecting rural residents (assessing, collecting taxes and conducting electionstaxes and conducting elections

County GovernmentCounty GovernmentFormed to centralize administrative functions ofFormed to centralize administrative functions ofstate government and to address needs ofstate government and to address needs ofcitizens. Responsibilities have remained muchcitizens. Responsibilities have remained muchthe same through the years.the same through the years.– Equalization of taxes Equalization of taxes – Election oversightElection oversight– Records of persons and propertyRecords of persons and property– LicensingLicensing– RoadsRoads– Care of rural lands and populationsCare of rural lands and populations– Provision of health and Provision of health and social servicessocial services

County Board of SupervisorsCounty Board of Supervisors

• 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Avery vs. (Avery vs.

Midland TX) Midland TX) brought one person one vote to brought one person one vote to local governmentlocal government

Functions of the County BoardFunctions of the County Board

• Legislation (resolutions and Legislation (resolutions and ordinances) consistent with grant of ordinances) consistent with grant of authorityauthority

• BudgetingBudgeting

• Establish compensation for employeesEstablish compensation for employees

• Make appointments to county positionsMake appointments to county positions

• Provide constituent servicesProvide constituent services

City GovernmentCity Government

• Cities have flexibility in structure, Cities have flexibility in structure, taxing powers, writing ordinancestaxing powers, writing ordinances

• Cities carry on same type of business Cities carry on same type of business as townships/villages—usually on as townships/villages—usually on larger scale; responsible for:larger scale; responsible for:– Assessing propertyAssessing property– Collecting taxesCollecting taxes– Conducting electionsConducting elections

Leadership for City GovernmentLeadership for City Government• Each city charter determines form of Each city charter determines form of

government; options:government; options:– Council-managerCouncil-manager– Strong mayor-councilStrong mayor-council– Weak mayor-councilWeak mayor-council

• Charter establishes election process for city Charter establishes election process for city officialsofficials– Election dates (April or November of odd years)Election dates (April or November of odd years)– Usually four-year termsUsually four-year terms– Usually non-partisanUsually non-partisan– Positions: council members, and, depending on Positions: council members, and, depending on

charter, mayor, clerk and treasurercharter, mayor, clerk and treasurer

Types of City ServicesTypes of City Services

Sidewalks Police Zoning Sewers Libraries Streets

Recreation Fire

protection Water

supply Transportati

on Trash

removal

How Do We Pay How Do We Pay For Local Government?For Local Government?

• Property taxProperty tax

• Special AssessmentSpecial Assessment

• Revenues from the stateRevenues from the state

• Federal moniesFederal monies

• Other – fees, permits, grants, etc.Other – fees, permits, grants, etc.

• Option for cities—income taxOption for cities—income tax

Public Debt and BorrowingPublic Debt and Borrowing

• Public bodies (local gov’t) have the Public bodies (local gov’t) have the power to borrow money and to issue power to borrow money and to issue

securities (Constitution)securities (Constitution)

How can YOU be more involved How can YOU be more involved with local government?with local government?

• Read, pay attention to local issuesRead, pay attention to local issues• Vote in local electionsVote in local elections• Attend public meetingsAttend public meetings• Talk with public officialsTalk with public officials• Get involved with a committee regarding an Get involved with a committee regarding an

issue you care aboutissue you care about• Apply for appointment to a local board or Apply for appointment to a local board or

commissioncommission• Run for public officeRun for public office

Planning Commission

Zoning Commission

Human Relations Commission

Housing Commission

Transportation Commission

Road Commission Parks &

Recreation Commission

Fair Board Mental Health

Board Social Services

Board Veteran’s Affairs

Board Library Board Board of Review

Local Boards & CommissionsLocal Boards & CommissionsPossibilities for Citizen InvolvementPossibilities for Citizen Involvement