Unit 8: Local Unit 8: Local GovernmentGovernment

Chapter 16: Chapter 16:

TB pgs. 560-583TB pgs. 560-583

Unit 8 Cover Page: NB Unit 8 Cover Page: NB pg. 106pg. 106

Table of Contents: NB Table of Contents: NB pg. 107pg. 107

©2005 Clairmont Press

Set Up NotebooksSet Up Notebooks

Essential AnswersEssential Answers

NB pg. 108NB pg. 108

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

NB Pg. 109NB Pg. 109

Chapter 16: Chapter 16:

©2005 Clairmont Press

Section 1: County GovernmentSection 1: County GovernmentTB pgs. 560-569TB pgs. 560-569

ESSENTIAL QUESTION ESSENTIAL QUESTION NB pg. 109NB pg. 109

How do county How do county governments work? governments work?

County Government County Government NB pg. 110 (NB 564-567)NB pg. 110 (NB 564-567)

• Georgia has 159 counties, nearly 600 towns – each has a gov’t

• county: subdivision of a state set up for certain governmental functions

• most Georgia counties - run by elected Board of Commissioners

• most counties set up similarly

Sharing Services TB 567Sharing Services TB 567• Some city & county gov’t share services

• Fulton County = home to city of Atlanta

• Fulton County & Atlanta share zoning duties and library system

• Fulton & DeKalb counties share a hospital authority

• Fulton County & Atlanta have separate school systems

Officials in County Government Officials in County Government (TB 567)(TB 567)

• Most counties have the following elected Most counties have the following elected officials:officials:– commissioners, superior court clerk, probate commissioners, superior court clerk, probate

court judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, court judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, coronercoroner

• Many officials are appointed:Many officials are appointed:– county clerk, fire chief, road supervisor, county clerk, fire chief, road supervisor,

emergency management director, attorney, emergency management director, attorney, planning and building inspector, etc.planning and building inspector, etc.

• Larger counties have more officialsLarger counties have more officials

Section 2: City Government and Section 2: City Government and Special-Purpose DistrictsSpecial-Purpose Districts

TB. 570 - 574TB. 570 - 574

ESSENTIAL QUESTION ESSENTIAL QUESTION NB 109NB 109

How do city governments How do city governments work in Georgia?work in Georgia?

City Government (TB 570-572)City Government (TB 570-572)

• municipality: a city with its own gov’t• city receives charter from state legislature• city charter explains what the city

government can do –police protection, maintain streets &

sidewalks, license businesses, control traffic, provide water & sewerage

• some city charters allow for a city-run school system

Forms of City Gov’t TB. 572-573Forms of City Gov’t TB. 572-573• Mayor-Council: most common

– elected council, elected mayor– weak-mayor system: mayor has little power, figurehead– strong-mayor system: mayor has power to run the city,

propose budget, can veto council

• Council-Manager– voters elect council members– mayor may be elected or appointed– council hires city manager for day-to-day operations of

the city

• City Commission– voters elect commissioners– commissioners form department heads of the city– mayor chosen by the commissioners

City-County GovernmentCity-County GovernmentNB pg. 111 (TB pg. 573) NB pg. 111 (TB pg. 573)

• some city and county governments merge when the region becomes more urban

• can reduce the cost of government

• Examples

– Athens-Clarke County

– Columbus-Muskogee County

– Augusta-Richmond County

Special Purpose Districts (TB pg. 573-574)

• Created for a specific job or taskCreated for a specific job or task

• Within certain guidelines, these districts are Within certain guidelines, these districts are self-governingself-governing

• ExamplesExamples

– school districts school districts

– MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) Transit Authority)

– Public Housing AuthorityPublic Housing Authority

– Georgia Ports AuthorityGeorgia Ports Authority

Funding Local Government (TB pg. 574)

• Sources of funding include state & federal grants & taxes on citizens

• ad valorem taxes: taxes paid based on the value of the property

• user fees: paid by the user of the service• sales tax: added to purchases made in the city or

county– general purpose local option sales tax: tax for

general use– special purpose local option sales tax

(SPLOST): approved by voters, adds sales tax to fund special projects such as parks or schools

• bond issues: a way for governments to borrow money; interest must be paid on the bonds

Section 3: Section 3: Where Do Georgia’s Citizens Where Do Georgia’s Citizens

Live? (TB pg. 575-577)Live? (TB pg. 575-577)

ESSENTIAL QUESTION NB 109ESSENTIAL QUESTION NB 109

Where do Georgia’s citizens Where do Georgia’s citizens live?live?

Where do Georgians Live? TB Where do Georgians Live? TB pg. 575pg. 575

• Georgia is one of fastest-growing states

• Hispanics are fastest-growing group

• Georgia’s has an increasing number of older citizens

• Most Georgians (2/3) live in metropolitan area (area in or around a city)

• Over 50% of Georgians live in metro Atlanta

• Just 50 years ago, most Georgians lived in rural areas – Georgians were mostly farmers

Urban Sprawl (TB pg. 575-Urban Sprawl (TB pg. 575-577)577)

• In 1960s, people began to move to suburbs – areas near edge of cities

• Expansion of suburbs created declines in urban pop.

• Large nos. of people in suburbs cause challenges to infrastructure – not enough roads, utilities, schools, sewerage, etc.

• Sprawl can cause traffic & pollution problems & an economic problem for the central city since the no. of residents declines

Urban RevitalizationUrban Revitalization• Effort to attract citizens to live in urban

areas

• Cities need people to work and live there in order to grow and be healthy

• Examples– Atlanta: Sweet Auburn, Little Five Points,

Virginia Highlands– Savannah: historic district, Bay Street,

Factor’s Walk– Augusta: Riverwalk