Local Governments

1
Local Governments

• POSC 140
• Intro to CA Government and Politics
• Braunwarth

2
Federal System

• We have three levels of government in the U.S.
  National, State, and Local
• Where did Madison want power centered?
• Jefferson?
• At what level is there greater public interest
  and turnout?
• Local elections often attract less than 10
  electoral turnout why?

3
Federal System

• State Governments have powers reserved to them
  where in the Constitution?
• 10th Amendment
• Local Governments (Counties, Cities, and Special
  Districts) have no similar independence
• They are chartered by states
• Many also receive aid from the national government

4
Counties

• Essentially, governing arms of the state
• CA has 58 from LA with 8,000,000 people, to
  Alpine with 8,760 to San Bernadino which
  covers20,164 sq miles
• Governed by a Board of Supervisors (5)
• Generally provide Social Services
• Health Care, Welfare, Jails
• What happens to the demand for these services in
  a declining economy?

5

Bill HornDistrict 5
Ron RobertsDistrict 4
Pam SlaterDistrict 3
Dianne JacobDistrict 2 Vice-Chairwoman
Greg CoxDistrict 1Chairman
6
Cities

• Formed (incorporated) when more people than
  county can provide for
• or when small communities of wealthy homeowners
  want to avoid paying for others in the county or
  larger city Irwindale, Cudahy, Industry all
  industrial, lt2000 people La Jolla
• Two types of Governing Systems
• Council-Manager and Mayor-Council

7
Council-Manager System

• 5-7 Council members including a mayor
• Mayor sets the agenda and presides at meetings
  but has no executive duties
• City Manager professional hired by the city to
  run the city acts as executive
• Prepares the budget
• hires/fires department heads/employees
• like a CEO and Board of Directors

8
Mayor-Council System

• Council elected (LA has 15 districts)
• Mayor elected at large,
• Mayor does not sit on the city council
• Runs city, establishes policy
• Hires and Fires (not weak)
• Prepares the Budget
• Sets the Councils agenda
• Like the President and Congress

9
San Diego

• Which system does San Diego use?
• S.D. is largest City Manager city in the country
• 8 council members from districts mayor elected
  at large
• Mayor Dick Murphy
• City Manager Lamont Ewell

10
San Diego
11
Special Districts

• Formed to supply special services in response to
  a common problem
• Water, street maintenance, etc.
• Tax themselves
• Business Improvement Districts (18 BIDs in S.D.,
  community signs)
• Maintenance Assessment Districts (Melo-Rus
  residential taxes to pay for the infrastructure
  of a new community)
• Coastal management district, etc.

12
Special Enterprise Districts

• What are they?
• Harbors, Airports, etc.
• Quasi-Governments Port District
• Revenue generators but city doesnt get the money
  or have the responsibility