STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FUNCTIONS

LOCAL

Services: water supply, fire protection, parks, schools & libraries

Community Improvement: New businesses & clean-ups

Protection: making & enforcing laws, law enforcement

STATE

Services: highways, parks, employment opportunities, unemployment benefits

Regulates insurance rates

MANDATES

Programs that local governments must provide because of requirements from state/federal govt.

ex: Medicaid, food stamps

MUNICIPALITY

Organized govt. that can make laws and provide services for its population

City, town, village Provides services Collects taxes & spend public

funds

CREATING A MUNICIPALITY

ANNEXATION

Extending municipal boundaries Can occur through an ordinance,

petition or act of the General Assembly

STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

GOVERNING BOARD

Elected bodyExamples:

Council Board of Commissioners Board of Aldermen

RALEIGH’S CITY COUNCIL

Consists of eight members who are elected for two-year terms. Three of the members, including the mayor, are elected at large, while the other members are elected from five districts.

DUTIES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

Make decisions: Local taxes Adopt budget Policies for municipal services Pass ORDINANCES (local laws)

MAYOR

Elected official Sometimes elected by the

governing board Presides over the governing

board Chief spokesperson

Raleigh’s mayor: Nancy MacFarlane

PROFESSIONAL MANAGER (ADMINISTRATOR) Hired by the council: COUNCIL-MANAGER

PLAN Carries out the council’s policies Hires/fires employees, coordinates work,

advises council on policy issues and proposes a budget

North Carolina is divided into 100 counties

COUNTY GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT

Elected officials: Board of County Commissioners

Sheriff Register of Deeds Local School Board

DUTIES

Set property tax rate Adopt county budget Pass ordinances, resolutions and

established policies

Manages jails, conducts

investigations, etc

Laura M. Riddick,Register of Deeds

Registers marriages, births, deaths, etc.

INDEPENDENT BOARDS

Appointed by the Board to direct agencies

Make local policies for their agencies

Examples: County Elections Board Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC stores)

COUNTY MANAGER

DAVID COOKE

PAYING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BUDGET

Requires annual approvalMust be balanced July 1—June 30 (FY )

APPROPRIATIONS

The amount to be spent for each department for the coming fiscal year.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Major purchases of land or buildings

•GENERAL OBLIGATION•REVENUE BONDS

BONDS

GENERAL OBLIGATION (G.O.) BONDS

Loans that government agrees to repay using tax money, even if the tax rate must be raised

In NC, G.O. cannot be issued unless there is a referendum (citizens vote to approve)

REVENUE BONDS

Repaid from the revenue the project generates.

Example: public golf club

SOURCES OF INCOME

STATE LEVEL

Most important source is INCOME TAX

Sales taxUser fees

LOCAL LEVEL

Most important source of revenue is property tax

Sales tax User fees

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Summarizes the government’s financial activity at the end of each fiscal year.