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.
2.
3.
4.
The Sheriff
The Tax Commissioner
The Clerk of the Superior Court
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
Municipalitycharter from the state
legislature because people living A city operating
in that area want certain
its own
services that the county does
government
not provide such as:
• Police protection
• Business licenses
• Street maintenance
• Traffic control
• Water and sewer systems
Three Types of City Governments
StrongMayorCouncil
WeakMayorCouncil
CouncilManager
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-MayorCouncil
Mayor has a
great deal of
power and
influence over
the council
Weak-MayorCouncil
Mayor’s powers
are very limited
• Rarely gets
veto power
Mayor is more
of a figurehead
Council-Manager
Council makes laws and
policies
City manager (hired by
council) oversees dayto-day city operations
and appoints heads of
city departments
Department heads
report to city manager
who reports to council
 City and county governments are general-purpose forms
of local government meaning they exist for many
different reasons.
Special Purpose
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
Districts
Special
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 should
be.
where the schools
should be built.
sets the curriculum.
hires the superintendent
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
Offer efficient way to
respond to an urgent
problem
Can readily borrow
money for its projects
They can charge fees to
users and raise money to
pay back the funds
borrows
Allows local governments
to provide a service
without having to raise
taxes
Disadvantages
Usually don’t receive
any publicity and their
governing boards are
rarely elected which
means they may not
be responsive to
public opinion
If there are too many
of them (each serving
their own purpose)
they may not work
well with each other
Tax Revenue
Revenue- money that the government
makes
 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: Income tax and sales
tax
• Local: Property and sales
tax
Different revenue sources:
 Taxes
 Fees
 Lottery funds
Tax Revenue
Different revenue sources:
 Taxes
 Fees
 Lottery funds
Main source of tax revenue
for Georgia:
• State: Income tax and sales
tax
• Local: Property and sales
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.)