County Government

Ch. 14 – Sec. 1Academic Civics

What is a county?

• County – A geographic area and government smaller than a state levelPennsylvania is made up of 67 counties

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Who is in charge of counties?

• In Blair County, we have three county commissioners

• County commissioners act as both:– Executive branch (through police and inspectors)– Legislative branch (by making ordinances)

• They pass ordinances, or laws for the county– Enforced by police and other agencies

Other responsibilities of County Commissioners

• Funding revenue by taxation – Excise (sales) tax – 1 penny on every dollar in

Pittsburgh– Property tax – paid for owning land, real estate,

stores, etc.• This is the major source of $$$ for AASD

• Passing ordinances to provide services and maintain safety

Who else runs the show in Blair Co.?

• With a partner, come up with a list of what the following individuals do in Blair County (pages 331-333)– County Sheriff– District Attorney– County Coroner– County Clerk– County Assessor– County Treasurer

What services are provided in Blair Co?

– Prison & juvenile probation– Voter registration– Housing & building codes– Sewage & waste– Law enforcement– Courthouse (Hollidaysburg)– Parks and recreation – Drug & alcohol services– Birth certificates– Permits (buildings, boats, retail, etc.)

Why do Counties require more $$$ than they used to?