State and Local Government

Chapter 5Counties

Background• Regional government has been around for a long time• 7th century, England divided into “shires” with a “shire-reeve” to

control it aka “sheriff”• Medieval France, counts were given lands called “counties”• British and French among the first to settle America, so their

systems were implemented here• Counties remain a way to divide states into smaller areas that

can be more effectively managed and governed• Counties were in WI before it was even an official state• Now we have 72 counties• See p 72

Counties

• Counties vary greatly in terms of population, size of land included in it, types of people living in it, geography and natural features

• Largest is Marathon- 1545 sq miles• Smallest is Ozaukee- 232 sq miles• Most populous is Milwaukee- 937,000 people• Least populous is Menominee- 4,633 people

Role of the County

• 2 main purposes- provide certain services for the state and act as a unit of local self-government

• Assists the state in many ways: enforcing state laws through the sheriff’s office, the D.A. represents the state in lawsuits, county highway dept maintains state highways within its borders, etc.

• County is given powers by the state to handle local matters but is limited by the specifications of the WI state constitution

County Organization• County Board of Supervisors: passes ordinances (laws) and

resolutions• Often divides into committees to handle duties i.e. finance,

personnel, agriculture, highways, parks, zoning, etc.• If the county does not have an executive or administrator, the

committee makes most decisions and supervises the dept under their wing- this is called government by committee

• County supervisors are elected on a nonpartisan basis for two-year terms except in Milwaukee County which is for four years

• County boards must meet 2x per year: April is an organizational meeting (elects its own officers, names committees) Oct/Nov meeting is for the budget

County Officials• If one officer manages the county government and are elected, they are

called the county executive• County administrator- If they are appointed by the county board• They manage the affairs of the county, submit an annual budget, make

certain appointments to office, etc.• Exec is elected on a nonpartisan ballot, serves four years, and is

independent of the county board, also has veto powers• Administrators serve indefinitely, at the pleasure of the county board, no

veto power• In WI there are 10 executives and 10 administrators• In counties without either, an administrative coordinator is appointed by

the board• More complex and populated counties have executives and administrators

to manage its government whereas smaller, rural areas usually do not

Other Officials• Each county is required to elect (in Nov, by party) certain

officials: • District attorney• Sheriff• Clerk (secretary for the county board)• Treasurer (handles all county gov’t funds)• Register of deeds• Clerk of circuit court• Coroner• Surveyor

Major county services• See figures 7 and 8 on pps 78-9 (will be on test!)• Health and social services take up 50 percent or more of the

budget• Operation and maintenance of highways also is a major

undertaking for the county• Public safety another major concern for the county (sheriff,

D.A., coroner)• Note that coroners are not needed if medical examiners are

available• 2 types of taxes provide revenue for the county: property and

county sales tax