Local Local GovernmentsGovernments

Local AuthorityLocal Authority►Our state constitution lays out Our state constitution lays out

rules for establishing local rules for establishing local governments. The NCGA can governments. The NCGA can create and abolish localities.create and abolish localities.

►Local Local ordinancesordinances (local laws) (local laws) must follow the state & federal must follow the state & federal constitution. Exs: Noise, leashconstitution. Exs: Noise, leash

Types of Local Types of Local GovernmentsGovernments

►CountiesCounties: largest subdivision of : largest subdivision of a state.a state.

►MunicipalitiesMunicipalities: any urban unit : any urban unit of government like towns or of government like towns or cities.cities.

►Special DistrictSpecial District: Concentrate on : Concentrate on regulation and control of 1 area.regulation and control of 1 area.

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities► Include cities, towns, and villages.Include cities, towns, and villages.►The type of government depends on The type of government depends on

charter.charter.►Currituck Co. has no municipalities.Currituck Co. has no municipalities.►Currituck Co. is part of the Hampton Currituck Co. is part of the Hampton

Roads Metropolitan Area. What is a Roads Metropolitan Area. What is a Metro Area?Metro Area?

NE NC with NE NC with MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

IncorporationIncorporation►When an area wishes to incorporate as a When an area wishes to incorporate as a

municipality to form a local government, the municipality to form a local government, the NCGA must approve the NCGA must approve the chartercharter. A charter is the . A charter is the municipality’s plan of government. What is municipality’s plan of government. What is included in a charter?included in a charter?

►Currituck Co. BOC sought to incorporate the Currituck Co. BOC sought to incorporate the entire county. This entire county. This referendumreferendum failed. failed.

►Corolla sought to incorporate last year. The Corolla sought to incorporate last year. The NCGA refused to approve their charter. What are NCGA refused to approve their charter. What are advantages & disadvantages of incorporation?advantages & disadvantages of incorporation?

AnnexationAnnexation

►Why would a city need or want to Why would a city need or want to annex new territory into their city annex new territory into their city limits?limits?

►What happens if the citizens of What happens if the citizens of the unincorporated area do not the unincorporated area do not want to be annexed?want to be annexed?

►What are the pros & cons of being What are the pros & cons of being annexed by a municipality?annexed by a municipality?

Structure of GovernmentsStructure of Governments

Voters Elect

Council

Manager

•Chief Executive

•Carries Out laws•Makes budget•Hires personnel

MAYOR

•Municipal legislature

•Makes ordinances

•Levies Taxes

•Hires Municipal Manager

•Approves Personnel & Budget

•Mainly ceremonial

Services provided by Services provided by MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

►Services include maintenance of Services include maintenance of streets, utilities, sidewalks, streets, utilities, sidewalks, cemeteries, and public safety.cemeteries, and public safety.

►Municipalities in NC collect property Municipalities in NC collect property taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes to pay for these services.taxes to pay for these services.

►The city manager develops the The city manager develops the budget which then must be budget which then must be approved by the council. Mayors approved by the council. Mayors are largely ceremonial.are largely ceremonial.

Counties Counties ►A county is the largest political A county is the largest political

subdivision of a state. All states subdivision of a state. All states but Alaska & Louisiana call them but Alaska & Louisiana call them counties. (Boroughs/Parishes)counties. (Boroughs/Parishes)

►NC has 100 counties.NC has 100 counties.►The 2 main duties of counties are The 2 main duties of counties are

to administer state & local laws & to administer state & local laws & provide services.provide services.

NC CountiesNC Counties

Functions of County Functions of County GovernmentsGovernments

►EducationEducation►TransportationTransportation►Social Social

ServicesServices►Sewage & Sewage &

SanitationSanitation

►ZoningZoning►Police & FirePolice & Fire►RecreationRecreation►WaterWater

Board of CommissionersBoard of Commissioners►All NC counties are governed by a Board All NC counties are governed by a Board

of Commissioners (BOC).of Commissioners (BOC).►There are 7 members on Currituck Co.’s There are 7 members on Currituck Co.’s

BOC: (5 districts & 2 at-large members)BOC: (5 districts & 2 at-large members)►Each member serves a 4-year term. The Each member serves a 4-year term. The

terms are staggered so every 2 years 3 terms are staggered so every 2 years 3 or 4 are elected. or 4 are elected.

►Main duties are: Make ordinances, hire Main duties are: Make ordinances, hire county manager, approve the budget, county manager, approve the budget, and levy taxes. and levy taxes.

BOC as of November, 2008BOC as of November, 2008

BOC as of November, 2008BOC as of November, 2008

The County The County ManagerManager

►Hired by the BOC.Hired by the BOC.►Makes the budget, Makes the budget,

oversees co. departments, oversees co. departments, carries out county carries out county operations and policies.operations and policies.

►Dan Scanlon is Currituck Dan Scanlon is Currituck Co.’s County Manager.Co.’s County Manager.

Special DistrictsSpecial Districts

►These local districts oversee a specific These local districts oversee a specific area of concern in a county.area of concern in a county.

►Examples in Currituck County include Examples in Currituck County include our school district and our soil & water our school district and our soil & water district.district.

►Each district is governed by an elected Each district is governed by an elected board. board.

►The Currituck County School district is The Currituck County School district is run daily by our superintendent.run daily by our superintendent.

Board of EducationBoard of Education

►Each serves a 4-year term. Terms are Each serves a 4-year term. Terms are staggered so every 2 years 2 or 3 are elected.staggered so every 2 years 2 or 3 are elected.

►Main duties are: Make policies, hire Main duties are: Make policies, hire superintendent and personnel, and approve the superintendent and personnel, and approve the budget.budget.

► http://www.currituck.k12.nc.us/contactboe.html

Voters Elect

Poplar Branch At Large Fruitville CrawfordMoyock

BOE TownshipsBOE Townships

SuperintendentSuperintendent

►Hired by the BOE.Hired by the BOE.►Makes the budget, oversees Makes the budget, oversees

all personnel, carries out all personnel, carries out school operations and school operations and policies.policies.

►Alison Osmon is Currituck Alison Osmon is Currituck Co.’s Superintendent.Co.’s Superintendent.

SherriffSherriff►Elected to 4-year term in all counties in Elected to 4-year term in all counties in

NC.NC.►Currituck County’s Sherriff is Susan Currituck County’s Sherriff is Susan

Johnson.Johnson.►Major duties are to oversee law Major duties are to oversee law

enforcement in the county.enforcement in the county.►Compiles the budget for the department Compiles the budget for the department

and hires the deputies. Also oversees and hires the deputies. Also oversees animal control division in our county.animal control division in our county.

Exit Quiz 14Exit Quiz 14

1.1. Who gives local governments the power to Who gives local governments the power to exist?exist?

2.2. What is the legislature of all NC counties?What is the legislature of all NC counties?

3.3. What are local laws called?What are local laws called?

4.4. What is the chief executive of a school What is the chief executive of a school district in NC called?district in NC called?

5.5. How many NC counties are there?How many NC counties are there?

6.6. How many municipalities are in Currituck How many municipalities are in Currituck County?County?