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Local Government

Local Government. With respect to local government, states are like unitary nations--they allow counties, cities, towns, etc. to exist and set the terms for their existence. Throughout the nation, there are 86,743 units of government and most are local: 3,043 counties 19,296 cities

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Local Government

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  1. Local Government • With respect to local government, states are like unitary nations--they allow counties, cities, towns, etc. to exist and set the terms for their existence. • Throughout the nation, there are 86,743 units of government and most are local: • 3,043 counties • 19,296 cities • 16,666 townships • 14,556 school districts • 33,131 special districts (e.g. TID)

  2. Local Government • Within California, there are: • 58 counties • 475 cities • 406 Redevelopment agencies • 995 School districts • 4,787 Special districts • 6,721 TOTAL

  3. Counties • Oldest form of government; imported from England • Function as Agent of the State: (financed largely by subventions) • Health (indigent health care; mental health; public health; alcohol & drug treatment) • Social services and general relief (welfare) • Temp. income & employment training • Elections • Courts & court related services

  4. Counties • Functions of Countywide government (financed by own-source revenues) • General administration (also assessor, weights & measures) • Corrections (youth & adult) • Treasury, tax collection • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)

  5. Counties • Municipal Functions of Counties in Unincorporated Areas (financed by sales taxes) • Land use planning • Parks & recreation • Library services • Police & fire protection • Waste disposal • Development regulation • Flood control

  6. Counties • General law: state law prescribes limits of responsibility • Board of Supervisors (5 members) oversees • Members elected in nonpartisan elections • Other elected officials: sheriff, district attorney, tax assessor • Charter counties (12) operate under home rule • Determine their own governing council and number of supervisors with approval of citizens • San Francisco is unique--both city and county

  7. Cities • Citizens petition county for incorporation • County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) must approve first • General law cities • 5 member city council, appointed city manager • Charter cities (like Stockton) if population exceeds 3,500 and residents vote

  8. City Services • Police & fire protection • Parks & recreation • Library services • Community centers • Water & sewer • Street lighting • Waste disposal • Utilities: gas& electric • Planning & development regulation • Economic development & redevelopment • Development & maintenance of infrastructure

  9. Cities • Elections: • Most are at-large elections (Progressive reform) • Some are returning to district elections to facilitate minority representation and reduce costs • All are nonpartisan (Progressive reform) • Mayors: Usually found in larger urban areas, elected at-large in nonpartisan elections

  10. Other Local Governments • School districts -- 995 • State oversees; local board gives direction • Funded by state and local taxes--but text may overstate the state contribution (75%) • Prop 98 (1988) mandated minimum spending levels for K-12 education • 1992-94 State began using county property taxes to pay its mandated share of education costs

  11. Other Local Governments • Special districts -- 4,787 • Single purpose; revenue stream identified • Municipal utility districts (MID, TID) • Fire protection, sewer districts, etc. • Redevelopment Agencies • channel property taxes to locality outside Proposition 13 provisions

  12. Other Local Governments • Regional governments • COGs-Councils of Governments for transportation planning between county (or counties) and cities • e.g., Stan-COG • ABAG--Association of Bay Area Governments for regional planning in Bay Area--http://www.abag.ca.gov/ • ASCG--Association of Southern California Governments

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