Local Governments
In Georgia
Mrs. Kim West
8th Grade Georgia Studies
GPS: SS8CG5
Georgia Performance
Standards
SS8CG5 The student will analyze the role of
local governments in the state of Georgia.
a. Explain the origins, functions, purposes, and
differences of county and 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.
Essential Questions
• How are COUNTY governments
organized and what is their role in
supporting the needs of the citizens?
• How are CITY governments organized
and what is their role in supporting the
needs of the citizens?
• Why are special-purpose districts
needed?
Local Governments in Georgia
• Local governments are divided into 2
different jurisdictions in Georgia:
– County Government (Ex. Rockdale)
– City Government (Ex. Conyers)
County Government
• Georgia has 159 counties, nearly
600 towns – each has a
government.
• County: subdivision of a state
set up for certain governmental
functions.
• Counties were created to serve
as districts for carrying out state
laws and programs.
County Government
• Each county has at least 1 representative in the Georgia
General Assembly.
• Today, Georgia’s counties serve several functions
including providing:
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courts of law
holding elections,
building and repairing county roads, and
administering social services programs.
• Counties can also provide services such as:
– police and fire protection (public safety),
– libraries,
– and public transportation.
County Government
• County government officials include:
- Sheriff: enforces the law, maintains the peace,
jailer.
- Tax Commissioner: receives tax returns, maintains
tax records, pays taxes.
- Clerk of the Superior Court: primary record keeper for
the county.
- Judge of the Probate Court: oversees property deeds,
marriage licenses, wills, and supervises elections.
- County Commissioner/Board of Commissioners:
power to adopt ordinances, daily operation of
government.
Officials in County Government
• Most counties have the following
elected officials:
– commissioners, superior court clerk, probate
court judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, coroner
• Many officials are appointed by the
elected officials:
– county clerk, fire chief, road supervisor,
emergency management director, attorney,
planning and building inspector, etc.
• Larger counties have more officials.
City Government
• Municipality: a city with its own government
• City receives charter from state legislature.
• City charter explains what the city
government can do:
– police protection, maintain streets and
sidewalks, license businesses, control traffic,
provide water and sewerage
• Some city charters allow for a city-run
school system, for example Atlanta Public
Schools.
Forms of City Government
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Mayor-Council: most common in Georgia
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Council-Manager
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elected council, elected mayor
weak-mayor system: mayor has little power, figurehead
strong-mayor system: mayor has power to run the city,
propose budget, can veto council
voters elect council members
mayor may be elected or appointed
council hires city manager for day-to-day operations of
the city
City Commission
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voters elect commissioners
commissioners form department heads of the city
mayor chosen by the commissioners
City-County Government
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Some city and county governments merge
when the region becomes more urban.
Can reduce the cost of government.
Examples:
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Athens-Clarke County
Columbus-Muskogee County
Augusta-Richmond County
Savannah-Chatham County
Sharing Services
• Some city and county
governments share services.
• Fulton County is home to city of
Atlanta.
• Fulton County and city of Atlanta
share zoning duties and library
system.
• Fulton and DeKalb counties share
a hospital authority – Grady
Hospital.
• Fulton County and the City of
Atlanta have separate school
systems.
Special Purpose Disticts
• Special purpose districts are government
entities created to serve a specific function
for the state or community.
• The purpose of a special purpose district is
to benefit the well-being of the people.
• Each of these districts is usually headed by
a governing board of non-elected officials.
Special Purpose Disticts
• Examples of Special Purpose Districts:
– school districts
– MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta
Rapid Transit Authority)
– Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
– Georgia Ports Authority
Funding Local Government
• Local governments (city and county) rely on
several sources of revenue (income) also:
– Sources of funding include state and federal grants and
taxes on citizens
– Ad Valorem Taxes: taxes paid based on the value of
the property, such as cars
– User Fees: paid by the user of the service
– Sales Tax: added to purchases made in the city or
county
– General Purpose Local Option Sales Tax: tax for
general use
– Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST):
approved by voters, adds sales tax to fund special
projects such as parks or schools
– Bond Issues: a way for governments to borrow money;
interest must be paid on the bonds