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Local Government Creation of Counties

Local Government Creation of Counties. 82 counties 1799- First counties were Adams and Pickering(Jefferson) Statehood in 1817-14 counties Constitution of 1890-75 counties Created to help provide services for citizens

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Local Government Creation of Counties

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  1. Local GovernmentCreation of Counties • 82 counties • 1799- First counties were Adams and Pickering(Jefferson) • Statehood in 1817-14 counties • Constitution of 1890-75 counties • Created to help provide services for citizens • Law enforcement, road maintenance, recreation, fire protection, and other services • Local elections- every 4yrs

  2. County GovernmentOfficials • Board of Supervisors • Sheriff • Coroner • Constables • Chancery Clerk • Circuit Clerk • Tax Collector • County Attorney • Superintendent of Education • County board of Education

  3. Board of Supervisors • Main governing body of the county • Each county is divided into districts (beats) of equal population • One supervisor is elected from each district • Supervisors: • Meet monthly • In charge of finance: can levy taxes, appropriate money, issue bonds etc.. • Maintain roads, repair the courthouse, regulate fireworks, purchase supplies and equipment for the county, etc…

  4. Sheriff Bryan Bailey • Chief law enforcement officer in the county • Authority to prevent criminal activities and make arrest • In charge of county jail, prisoners, and the courthouse Coroner • Conducts investigations into deaths for which the cause of death is unknown Constable • Elected as law enforcement officers for the justice court judges Von Brown District 1, Brad Patridge District 2, Barry Bean District 3, Tim Gardner District 4

  5. Chancery clerk • Clerk for the board of supervisors • Keeps a record of the board’s proceedings and orders • Receives and records legal papers such as deeds relating to land • Serves as treasurer and auditor for the county: keeps up with the county funds Circuit Clerks • Clerk for the circuit court • Registers voters • Prepares the voter lists • Administers elections • Issues marriage licenses Rebecca Boyd Larry Swales

  6. Tax Collector • Collect taxes Tax Assessor • Determines the true value of each piece of property in the county • Establishes the taxable value of the property Judy Fortenberry John Sullivan

  7. County Attorney • Prosecutes cases for the state in justice courts and county courts • Assists the district attorney in cases before circuit courts • The district attorney represents more than one county, prosecutes states cases in their district Michael Guest

  8. County Superintendent of Education • Chief public school official • Responsible for the administration of the public schools County Board of Education • Five members elected from districts (same as supervisors) • Manages financial affairs of the school system, determines employment policies, oversees the construction and maintenance of schools, etc..

  9. Municipal Government • MS is a RURAL state-more than half of population lives in rural places • Functions of cities: to provide services for its citizens • Maintaining roads and bridges, providing police and fire protection, libraries, recreation facilities, etc…

  10. Municipal Government • Municipalities- political units that provide local gov’t to specific areas • More than 2000=cities • 301-2000=towns • 50-300=villages • Incorporate (to become a city or town) • Presenting to the chancery court a petition signed by 2/3 of the voters who reside in the proposed city. • A charter is then issued by Sec. of State. • Charter- city’s basic laws

  11. Forms of Municipal Government • Mayor-Council Form- Voters elect a mayor and city council. • Council is referred to as the board of aldermen • Commission Form-Voters elect a mayor and two commissioners • Mayor is official representative of the city; Commissioners head specific departments of city government like finance • Council Manager Form-Voters elect a mayor and council which in turn hire a city manager • Mayor represents the city, council is the policy making body, and the manager handles the day to day operations

  12. Annexation • Expanding boundaries of cities • Has to pass an ordinance (law) that describes the boundaries of the new area, tells what services will be provided • Citizens in the area have no vote on the issue but can file a lawsuit… usually doesn’t help

  13. Other Forms of Local Government • School Districts- 152 • MS Planning and Development Districts (PDDs)- help cities and counties with economic development • Soil and water conservation districts-control floods, prevent erosion, etc.. • Levee districts

  14. Financing Local Government • Major source of revenue for county governments is the ad valorem tax- levied on the assessed value of real and personal property • Real- land and permanent structures on the land • Personal- Movable items like cars • Tax rates can be determined based on financial needs of local government • Cities also receive a portion of the state’s general sales tax • Some cities levy taxes on certain types of businesses. For example, Starkville, Hattiesburg, and Oxford tax hotel room rentals.. Wonder why????

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