A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States. A county usually has three to five members of the county commission.[1] In some counties within Georgia a sole commissioner holds the authority of the commission.
In parts of the United States, alternative terms such as county board of supervisors or county council may be used in lieu of, but generally synonymous to, a county commission. However, in some jurisdictions there may be distinct differences between a county commission and other similarly titled bodies. For example, a county council may differ from a county commission by containing more members or by having a council-manager form of government. In Indiana, every county, except Marion County which is consolidated with the city of Indianapolis, has both a county commission and a county council, with the county commission having administrative authority and the county council being responsible for fiscal matters.[2]
Each commission acts as the executive of the local government, levying local taxes, administering county governmental services such as correctional institutions, courts, public health oversight, property registration, building code enforcement, and public works (e.g. road maintenance). The system has been supplanted in large part, as disparate sparsely-settled regions become urbanized and establish tighter local governmental control, usually in municipalities, though in many of the more rural states, the county commission retains more control, and even in some urbanized areas, may be responsible for significant government services.
Various counties nationwide have explored expanding from three members to five.[3][4][5]
William Penn, colonial founder of Pennsylvania originated the system of county commissions in the United States.
On February 28, 1681, King Charles II of England granted a charter for a proprietary colony[6] to William Penn to repay a debt of £16,000[7] (around £2,100,000 in 2008 currency, adjusting for retail inflation)[8] owed to William's father, Admiral William Penn. This was one of the largest land grants to one individual ever made in history.[9] Penn established a local colonial government with two innovations that were copied by other colonies in the British America: the county commission, and freedom of religious conviction.[9]
New Jersey previously referred to county commissioners as freeholders, but its practice ended in 2021.[10][11]
^Kelly, John (2010-03-23). "What does a county board of commissioners do?". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
^"Unravelling local government: County commissioners vs. county council". IndyStar. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^"Senate passes 5 county commissioners bill with 'tweak' | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
^"Editorial: What's better than three commissioners? Five". Boulder Daily Camera. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
^Devine, Jacqueline (2018-03-09). "Board of County Commissioners turns down motion to increase board from 3 members to 5". Alamogordo Daily News. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
^Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania-1681. This charter, granted by Charles II (England) to William Penn, constituted him and his heirs as proprietors of the province, which, in honor of his father, Admiral William Penn, (whose cash advances and services were thus requited) was called Pennsylvania. To perfect his title, William Penn purchased, on 1682-08-24, a quit-claim from the Duke of York to the lands west of the Delaware River embraced in his patent of 1664
^Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Governors, ed. (1916). "Samuel Carpenter". Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Governors, Volume 1. pp. 180–181.
^. Measuring Worth. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
^ ab. Pym.org. March 28, 2006. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
^"'Freeholder' Title Abolished In New Jersey". Long Valley, NJ Patch. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
^Writer, MICHELLE BRUNETTI POST Staff (21 August 2020). "Murphy signs bill into law to change "freeholder" title to "commissioner"". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
February 15, 2024
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Board of Commissioners redirects here For other uses see Commission disambiguation A county commission or a board of county commissioners is a group of elected officials county commissioners collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States A county usually has three to five members of the county commission 1 In some counties within Georgia a sole commissioner holds the authority of the commission County Commission Texas historical marker in Brenham TexasIn parts of the United States alternative terms such as county board of supervisors or county council may be used in lieu of but generally synonymous to a county commission However in some jurisdictions there may be distinct differences between a county commission and other similarly titled bodies For example a county council may differ from a county commission by containing more members or by having a council manager form of government In Indiana every county except Marion County which is consolidated with the city of Indianapolis has both a county commission and a county council with the county commission having administrative authority and the county council being responsible for fiscal matters 2 Each commission acts as the executive of the local government levying local taxes administering county governmental services such as correctional institutions courts public health oversight property registration building code enforcement and public works e g road maintenance The system has been supplanted in large part as disparate sparsely settled regions become urbanized and establish tighter local governmental control usually in municipalities though in many of the more rural states the county commission retains more control and even in some urbanized areas may be responsible for significant government services Various counties nationwide have explored expanding from three members to five 3 4 5 Contents 1 History 2 By state 3 See also 4 References and footnotesHistory editWilliam Penn colonial founder of Pennsylvania originated the system of county commissions in the United States On February 28 1681 King Charles II of England granted a charter for a proprietary colony 6 to William Penn to repay a debt of 16 000 7 around 2 100 000 in 2008 currency adjusting for retail inflation 8 owed to William s father Admiral William Penn This was one of the largest land grants to one individual ever made in history 9 Penn established a local colonial government with two innovations that were copied by other colonies in the British America the county commission and freedom of religious conviction 9 New Jersey previously referred to county commissioners as freeholders but its practice ended in 2021 10 11 By state editBoard of County Commissioners New Jersey formerly known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders Board of County Commissioners Ohio Commissioners Court Texas and Missouri identical concept known in Arkansas as Quorum Court Fiscal Court Kentucky Police Jury Louisiana Sole commissioner some counties in Georgia See also editCounty board of supervisors County council County executiveReferences and footnotes edit Kelly John 2010 03 23 What does a county board of commissioners do HowStuffWorks Retrieved 2019 08 13 Unravelling local government County commissioners vs county council IndyStar 2016 04 22 Retrieved 2021 08 01 Senate passes 5 county commissioners bill with tweak The Spokesman Review www spokesman com Retrieved 2019 08 13 Editorial What s better than three commissioners Five Boulder Daily Camera 2018 08 01 Retrieved 2019 08 13 Devine Jacqueline 2018 03 09 Board of County Commissioners turns down motion to increase board from 3 members to 5 Alamogordo Daily News Retrieved 2019 08 13 Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania 1681 This charter granted by Charles II England to William Penn constituted him and his heirs as proprietors of the province which in honor of his father Admiral William Penn whose cash advances and services were thus requited was called Pennsylvania To perfect his title William Penn purchased on 1682 08 24 a quit claim from the Duke of York to the lands west of the Delaware River embraced in his patent of 1664 Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Governors ed 1916 Samuel Carpenter Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Governors Volume 1 pp 180 181 Measuring Worth Measuring Worth Archived from the original on July 14 2011 Retrieved July 31 2010 a b Quakers and the political process Pym org March 28 2006 Archived from the original on May 24 2008 Retrieved July 31 2010 Freeholder Title Abolished In New Jersey Long Valley NJ Patch 2020 08 21 Retrieved 2020 08 21 Writer MICHELLE BRUNETTI POST Staff 21 August 2020 Murphy signs bill into law to change freeholder title to commissioner Press of Atlantic City Retrieved 2020 08 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title County commission amp oldid 1191693356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
