The role of county government

This week I had the privilege of attending an educational presentation by Logan County Clerk, Troy Cole, who did an excellent job in providing information to a group of citizens on the role of county government. As part of her presentation, Ms. Cole distributed a handout compiled by OSU Extension Economist Dr. Notie Lansford, who provides training to county employees and officials. I am passing on to you excerpts and a paraphrase of this information, courtesy of Dr. Lansford.

By Oklahoma law, there are nine county offices where officials are elected by voters of the county. These include three commissioners, a county clerk, assessor, treasurer, sheriff, a court clerk and a district attorney. Each elected officer serves a four-year term. The terms stagger where every two years at the November general election, there are ballots for several county offices.

There are three county commissioner districts in each county in Oklahoma. The districts are approximately equal in population. A county commissioner is elected by voters within his or her  district.Many citizens perceive a county commissioner as mainly responsible for maintaining and constructing roads and bridges. While these are required duties, the board of commissioners is the chief administrative body for the county, responsible for setting and administering county policies.The commissioners are required to hold, at the county seat, a regular meeting on the first Monday of each month to transact county business. Generally, more frequent meetings are held and an agenda is posted in advance at the courthouse. The agenda can include legal, personnel and fiscal matters. Board meetings are open to the public.

By law, the commissioners must act as a board when entering into contracts or agreements affecting the county. Actions taken by the board are voted on and approved by a majority of the commissioners. Among the powers granted by law to the board are the authority to:

•Sell or purchase public land or buildings for the county • Call a county bond election for approving a public project • Incur public indebtedness in the county’s name • Approve payroll and payments for
equipment or supplies purchased or leased by the county • Receive and approve bids on major purchases or con­struction projects •  Maintain an inventory of property owned or leased by the county which exceeds $500 in value • Audit accounts of county officers • Develop personnel policies for county em­ployees • Designate and publish (in conjunction with the county excise board) holidays on which county of­fices may close • Lease tools, machinery or equipment to another county, political subdivision or state agency, or jointly buy equipment with other counties • Maintain and construct roads and bridges in the county highway system.

The board of county commissioners plays an integral part in receiving and expending county funds. As the county’s chief administrative body, the board makes major financial decisions and transactions and has the official duty to ensure the fiscal responsibility of other county officers who handle county funds. The board also has the power and duty to audit accounts of all officers who receive and manage county funds.

The board has a role in the county budget process. Near the end of each fiscal year, the board must collect from each elected and non-elected county official a financial statement showing their expenditures and remaining revenues for the current fiscal year and their estimate of needs for the upcoming fiscal year. The county clerk assists in these duties. This information is published in a newspaper and submitted to the county excise board. Final authority for funding each county office lies with the excise board.

Unlike the misconception that county commissioners are only elected to build and maintain roads and bridges, they are foremost policy makers and business managers for the county, working to provide the public with a fiscally efficient system of county government.