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County Government. History. Idaho has 44 counties (402 sq. miles of Payette Co. to 8,500 sq. miles of Idaho Co.) Began as a “shire” (county) plus a “shire-moot” (a county seat) and an “Earl” (county commissioners) and a “shire-reeve” (a sheriff)
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History • Idaho has 44 counties (402 sq. miles of Payette Co. to 8,500 sq. miles of Idaho Co.) • Began as a “shire” (county) plus a “shire-moot” (a county seat) and an “Earl” (county commissioners) and a “shire-reeve” (a sheriff) • Idaho uses the Pennsylvania form of 3 County Commissioners and a County Seat location
State Constitution • Specifies how counties elect officers and length of terms • Tells how to form a new county (400+ sq. miles + tax value) • Specifies of what to tax and how much
Cities get help from… • The state with rules on taxation • The state which provides extension services • The federal government in grants for courthouses, jails, airports, nursing homes and beautification/public works projects.
Officials • County auditor • 4 year term • Keeps records of revenue, watches county agencies budgets, writes checks, writes financial reports for local, state, and federal government • Prepares agenda for county commissioners meeting, takes the minutes, files the report of the meeting • Prepares county budget • Files all legal county documents such as certificates of sale and business names • Select jury pool • Clerical support in courts-registers voters, set elections, print ballots • Register voters, set elections, print ballots
Officials • County treasurer • Receives all money collected • Accounts for all money • Collects the taxes, issues warrants to collect delinquent taxes
Officials • County Assessor • Sets fair value on property for taxing • Keeps accurate map of the county • Registers motor vehicles, sells licenses plate, registers titles • Sheriff • Land and water protection • Tribes provide their own reservation police
Services Provided by County Government • Maintain land records • Administer elections • Assess and collect property tax • Maintain law enforcement • Plan for disaster • Provide public assistance • Agriculture assistance • Control of weeds, predatory animals • Set minimum standards for zoning • Road maintenance • Garbage/landfills
Special Districts • Educational (Moscow School District #281) • Utilities (Viola Water and Sewer District) • Transportation (Bart System in San Francisco) • Garbage/recycling (can be public or private)