Local Government & Finance

1. Local Government & Finance

2. __________ Government in NC

3. ____________ & Organization ____ Types of Local Government • ____________________ • __________ counties in NC • ____________ – center of county gov’t

4. Municipalities • _______, __________, or _____________ (have same legal status) • Have _____________ and ____________ branches… some have ____________ branches (no judicial authority) • Raise $ through ______________ • Set local ____________ policies • Establish ________________

5. MUNICIPALITIES Key terms: • ____________- declared as a municipality and granted a _________ • __________– outlines basic ______ for a municipal gov’t • _______________– allows cities to write their own ____________, chose their own type of gov’t and ____________ their own affairs

6. MUNICIPALITIES • _______+ exist in NC • See p 408 to see services provided on the local level • Each has been incorporated & given a charter… can _________ by _______________ or _____________ • Can expand– _______________(to bring unincorporated areas into an existing municipality)

7. Municipal Government • Elects a board: a ______________, city council, _______________________, or board of _______________ • Acts like a _______________ • In Alamance County: • Haw River– Town Council • Burlington– City Council • Alamance County– Board of Commissioners • Elon– Board of Aldermen

8. Municipal Government (cont’d) • Pass local ___________(___________) • Approve _____________ • Set _________ rates • Regulate citizens’ ____________

9. Types of Municipal Government 3 types: • Mayor-Council Government • Council-Manager Plan • Commission Plan

10. Most use a “________________” plan: • _______serves as chief executive and the board of alderman/ city council serve as the legislative branch • Can be a “______” mayor or a “______” mayor • “weak” mayor– few ____________ powers; most __________ are with _____________ • “strong” mayor– similar to relationship of _____________ to ________________

11. Council- Manager Plan __________, which makes laws and hires a City Manager who handles the daily business of government, including supervising city employees Voters select a

12. Commission Plan: • Commissioners are chosen by voters who direct one of the city’s departments • ____________used anymore

13. COUNTY GOVERNMENT

14. Governing the Counties • ________________ counties • Serves as _________ gov’t AND as an extension or branch of state gov’t • Sets local ___________________ • Carries out state guidelines and laws • Governing body of a county = Board of County Commissioners • Set ___________ rates • Approve _________________ • Establish county _______________

15. Alamance County Board of Commissioners • Website: http://www.alamance-nc.com/Alamance-NC/Departments/Commisssioners/ • Chairman Larry Sharpe, Vice-Chairman Dan Ingle, William Lashley, Tim Sutton, Ann Vaughan • Serve 4 year terms

16. Responsibilities of counties: • General Assembly created independent boards to oversee specific services required by counties to provide (if county is small can combine) • ______________ • ____________________ • _______________ health • ______________ health • _______________services • ABC (alcoholic beverage control) • Soil & water conservation

17. See website: http://www.acmhddsa.org/

18. Education • _________= Local Education Authority • 100 counties… ________public school systems (100 county + 16 city) • Example:Orange County Schools & Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools • _____________ elect ______________ members

19. County Offices • Some NC counties hire _____________ called ________________________ • Alamance County = David Smith • Reports to the board of county commissioners

20. Services Provided (see page 408)

21. County Departments • Sheriff’s Department– headed by _________(elected)– leads county ____ enforcement & oversees the county _______ • Dept. of Register of Deeds– headed by __________(elected) – keeps county __________: land ownership, ___________, ________ & _________

23. Government Finances

24. State Budget Process • ________– a plan for __________ and _____________ money • 2 parts: government ___________ & government _______________ • NC= ____________Budget • Every _____ years (odd) • ____________ year= July 1st – June 30th

25. State Budget Process (cont’d) • ______________’s role: • Prepare revenues guesstimates for upcoming 2 years • Add up requests for expenditures from state agencies • Compare total estimated revenues with total estimated expenditures • Propose a _______________BUDGET

26. State Budget Process (cont’d) • _____________’s role • Studies proposed budget • Makes necessary ____________ • If can’t agree…

27. State Budget Process (cont’d) • ______________ & ________________ • Half of total spending went toward health & human services and public education • Over half state revenue comes from ___________ • Budget ______________ • Amount ________ exceeds ______________ • Borrowing $ • NC gov’t’s can ____ borrow $ for __________ expenses • CAN borrow for major purchases • Allows gov’t to make _________ without waiting to _______________ • Spreads burden of ___________ to future ______

28. Municipal & County Budgets • Municipalities & county gov’ts adopt budgets every ______________ • NC gov’ts _________ pass ________ budget • Must balance between ________ & _______ • Expenditures • _____ municipal toward __________ (water / sewage) • ________ & _____________ • _______county go toward _____________ • 1/4thcounty pay for public health, mental health and social services • Revenues • 1/3rd municipal comes from ______________ • ________________ provide large amounts of revenue