Georgias local Government GSE SS 8 CG 6

Note to teachers Thank you for purchasing my product! I intended this assignment to

Origins • • Georgia’s Local Government Georgia is traditionally an agricultural state, and for

Georgia’s Local Government County Leadership Sheriff • • • Main jailer for the county

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? Revenue Source Description

1. What statement best describes the role of local governments? A. local governments provide

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? Municipalities • Leadership:

Georgia’s Local Government Revenue Source Description TAXES NON-TAXES Think about it: Why might a

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? County governments allow

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Georgia’s local Government GSE SS 8 CG 6 Includes: - 2 easy-to-read overview pages about Georgia’s local government, CG 6 elements a and b - 1 guided notes page to be completed as students read through notes - 6 multiple choice review questions - Teacher instructions & Answer Key included - Great for a quick review or sub work!

Note to teachers Thank you for purchasing my product! I intended this assignment to be used for a quick lesson, a substitute assignment, homework, or just a regular crunch-time lesson when we get closer to state testing! • These notes can be used either as a whole-group activity or an independent worksheet. • Students should read annotate the notes on local government. • Students then complete the guided notes page (slide 5) using what they read. • If you like to save paper, I suggest making a class set of the notes (slides 3 and 4) and print slides 7 & 8 back-to-back. • At the end of the lesson, students can individually or as a class go through the multiple choice review questions. Question #5 includes information from the standard CG 3 (executive branch), so that standard may require a quick overview when discussing #5. (Note on fonts: I did embed fonts, but if you’d like to use these fonts on your computer, I purchased rights for KG inimitable original for the titles and KG Blank Space Solid for the text from Teachers Pay Teachers. )

Origins • • Georgia’s Local Government Georgia is traditionally an agricultural state, and for this reason counties are an important part in the state’s local government. It is believed that having many smaller counties allowed rural farmers to travel to the county seat (the main town of each county, with a courthouse and jail), conduct necessary business, and return within one day. Even though Georgia is the 21 st largest state, it has the second highest number of counties. Only Texas, which is significantly larger, has more counties! Georgia began with just 8 counties in 1777. Today, Georgia has 159 (the maximum allowed by the state constitution) counties and 535 cities. Having such a large number of counties allows Georgia’s citizens to have stronger political representation in Georgia’s General Assembly. Three Types of local governments City (Municipality) • Established by a municipal charter, which must be approved by the General Assembly • The charter is similar to a constitution in that it gives the authority for the city to exist. Establishes a mayor or council as leadership. • Cities may provide separate police and fire services, conduct separate water and waste management, charge additional taxes, and establish separate school districts. County • Helps the state to administer its programs and maintain state courts • Created to help a rural society function in a similar way to more urban areas • Mainly run by 4 elected county officers • Functions: • Conduct elections, provide courts, maintain roads, administer state programs, provide fire and police service, establish libraries, and contribute to public transportation Special Purpose Districts • Form of local government focused on a particular function • Generally run by boards, or a group of leaders making decisions together • Main purpose is to benefit people and improve an aspect of the community • Examples: • School systems • MARTA • Georgia Port Authority • Hartsfield-Jackson Int. Airport

Georgia’s Local Government County Leadership Sheriff • • • Main jailer for the county Enforces laws Ensures peace Clerk of Superior Court Tax Commissioner • • • Pays taxes for county Maintains tax records Receives tax returns • Principal record keeper for the county Judge of Probate Court • • Supervises county elections Oversees legal paperwork like • Marriage licenses • Property deeds • Wills County Commissioner • • Adopts ordinances (like laws for cities) Ensures smooth running of daily operations Local revenue Similar to the state level of government, local governments use both tax and non-tax sources of revenue to fund its programs. Spending decisions are made based on the needs of citizens. TAXES • Excise – tax on specific goods like alcohol and gasoline • Franchise – tax on widely used utilities like telephone, cable, and electricity • Sales – tax placed on consumption of goods or property, often used for improving public spaces and education • Ad Valorem – tax based on the value of an exchange, like purchasing cars or boats • Regulatory Fees – required for business who want to conduct business in a county NON-TAXES • Court fines, federal grants, permit fees, service fees on utilities (water, gas, etc. )

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? Revenue Source Description TAXES Municipalities • Leadership: • Additional Information: What do these three local government structures have in common? Counties • Leadership: • Additional Information: Special Purpose Districts • Leadership: NON-TAXES Think about it: Why might a county increase taxes on its citizens? • Additional Information: What might happen if enough revenue is not collected for a local program?

1. What statement best describes the role of local governments? A. local governments provide residents with certain services that directly impact their lives. B. Local governments were created to administer federal programs and initiatives. C. Local governments fund a variety of projects outside of their jurisdiction (authority). D. Local governments change excessive sales tax to make up for what the state does not collect. 2. Which of the following best describes special-purpose districts? A. They are government entities established to place checks and balances on other local governments. B. They were created to address the specific needs of a community. C. They are government programs enlisted to collect more local tax revenue. D. They are the final authority over how ordinance are written and elections are run. 3. Which of the following is an example of a special-purpose district? A. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta B. Coca-Cola headquarters C. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport D. Local business that provides polling statistics 4. A mayor is general the leader of a city or municipality. Which position below is the equivalent leader of a county? A. Sheriff B. Tax Commissioner C. Governor D. County Commissioner 5. How are the positions of sheriff, secretary of state, county commissioner, and attorney general similar? A. They are all elected members of the executive branch. B. They are all appointed members of the judiciary. C. They are all members of the legislative committee system. D. They are all nominated by citizens, and appointed by the mayor. 6. Which of the following service is provided by local tax payer dollars? A. street and road construction B. improvements to the Home Depot headquarters C. building a new space for Sam’s Club D. attracting celebrity talent to increase tourism

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? Municipalities • Leadership: • Additional Information: What do these three local government structures have in common? • Additional Information: Counties • Leadership: • Additional Information: Special Purpose Districts • Leadership: • Additional Information: What do these three local government structures have in common?

Georgia’s Local Government Revenue Source Description TAXES NON-TAXES Think about it: Why might a county increase taxes on its citizens? What might happen if enough revenue is not collected for a local program?

Georgia’s Local Government How are county governments beneficial for Georgia’s citizens? County governments allow more citizens to fully participate and be represented in state government. They were originally established to help rural farmers have easier access to government services. Municipalities • Leadership: mayor and/or council • Additional Information: • Est. by a municipal charter • May have separate services like schools, police, and utilities Counties • Leadership: county commissioner, sheriff, tax commissioner, clerk of superior court, probate judge, • Additional Information: 159 total. Take care of courts, state programs, roads, utilities, transportation, libraries. Special Purpose Districts • Leadership: board members • Additional Information: created for a special purpose. Ex: MARTA, school districts, airport What do these three local government structures have in common? City, County, and special purpose districts all may provide services like education, utilities, and police and fire protection. The programs run by local governments are primarily funded through taxes on citizens. All services are for the benefit of the public. Revenue Source Description TAXES Excise Tax Alcohol and gasoline Franchise Tax Electricity, cable, telephone Sales Tax Purchased goods or property Ad Valorem Large purchases like a car or boat Regulatory Fees For businesses wanting to work out of the county NON-TAXES Court fines, federal grants, utility fees, permit fees Think about it: Why might a county increase taxes on its citizens? Possible answers: new welfare program, new school building, beautification program, expansion of transportation, or anything else that would increase the local government’s budget What might happen if enough revenue is not collected for a local program? The local budget would be cut, and cuts would have to be made to a project or program.