Local Government Flashcards
Define Board of Supervisors
Unlike cities, counties have a Board of supervisors which is a legislative body of 5 members. Board members serve for 4-yr staggered terms and are elected during June primary elections in even-number years. Boards adopt county budgets, determine some service levels, and make numerous decisions affecting unincorporated areas. They hire chief administrative officers to carry out board policy and administer county routines. Over the years, service on the board of supervisors has been a stepping-stone to the state legislature or other elective posts.
Define City Council
5 members elected at large. The city council adopts the annual budget for the city, levies and sets taxes, authorizes public improvements, adopts traffic regulations, etc. It establishes policy goals, objectives, and permanence measures for the city manager.
Define City Manager
The city manager runs most of the day to day tasks. They are responsible for assuring that City services are performed in accordance with Council policies and within the capability of the City’s resources. The City Manager keeps the Council advised of the City financial condition and the future needs of the city. The duties include executing policies, judgment managements and supervision of personnel.
Define Unincorporated Area
A community or area that is not part of an incorporated city and is instead governed by the county (it is outside the jurisdictional boundaries of incorporated cities). Essentially, the county is its local governments. For ex. county is your city council and if crime happens the Sheriff show up rather than city police. Lots of people in unincorporated areas enjoy being less governed as the County Board of Supervisors tends to be very busy.
Describe some of the differences between county and city governments. How do these differences affect their relationship with the state?
Counties: Have a Board of Supervisors, County Executive Administrator, other department hands appointed by board or admin, and independently elected folk (assessor, auditor, sheriff, county clerk, district attorney, and coroner). Counties can be general law counties which follow the rules set by state legislatures or charter counties which have more autonomy and can adopt their own charters. Additionally, counties are responsible for governing unincorporated areas. Counties manage social services, public safety (sheriff, DA, county jail), infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc), and the administration of state programs (Medi-Cal, CalWorks, etc). They keep birth/death/marriage/property records. They provide direct health care services as county hospitals serve everyone. Animal control, fire and emergency response, environmental health. More dependent on state funding for range of services. Must adhere to state law.
Cities are more independent from the state and rely on property taxes, sales taxes, and other local revenue. Cities are governed by city councils composed of elected members. There can be charter cities and general law cities. Cities primarily manage urban areas and provide services such as police and fire protection, public transportation, parks, and housing development. They have more autonomy in zoning, local ordinance, urban planning, and city services.
How do these differences affect their relationship with the state?
County governments are often more integrated into the state’s administrative structure, carrying out state programs at the local level. This means counties are heavily dependent on the state for funding and policy direction, which can limit their autonomy in certain areas.
City governments, especially charter cities, have more autonomy in managing local affairs, particularly in zoning, urban planning, and certain fiscal policies. They can have more control over their budgets, local taxes, and ordinances compared to counties.
In what ways are county administrators of the state?
County administrators oversee the implementation of state-run programs, such as Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, and social services, often as agents of the state. County administrators must ensure that local programs and services comply with state regulations, such as environmental laws, public health mandates, and criminal justice policies. County administrators play a central role in local emergency management and public safety, working with state agencies during disasters and implementing state-level policies. Overall, county administrators in California serve as key links between local governments and the state, carrying out state functions at the local level and adhering to state laws, regulations, and funding mechanisms.
Describe the power tension that often exists between counties and the state. To what extent is it driven by money?
Counties are responsible for delivering a wide array of services that are often mandated by the state, such as healthcare, welfare programs (e.g., Medi-Cal), and criminal justice services. However, the state controls much of the funding for these programs, and the funding is often insufficient or comes with stringent requirements. This creates a tension where counties are expected to meet state mandates but have limited flexibility to adjust services to local needs due to budget constraints. Moreover, California’s state government can preempt local laws, meaning that state legislation can override local ordinances. While counties have some flexibility, especially charter counties, in many cases, they are limited in how they can address local issues if the state passes a law that supersedes their ordinances. One of the most significant sources of tension between counties and the state in recent years has been criminal justice realignment. The state’s decision to shift the responsibility for managing low-level offenders from state prisons to county jails (through AB 109 and related laws) has led to considerable financial and operational burdens for counties. While counties were granted more authority over local justice systems, they were not provided adequate funding to meet these new responsibilities. Therefore, money—and the way it is allocated or withheld—remains a key factor in the ongoing tension between counties and the state in California.
