State and Local Government

No clear separation of functions between levels today. Activities decided by:

• Who has been doing it
• Who can afford to do it
• Who can do it best
  • Economies of scale
    • e.g., National defense
• Regional impacts
  • e.g., Pollution control
• Local values and circumstances
  • e.g., Education
• Quasi-commercial activities
  • e.g., Electric power

Levels of Government and Their Functions

State

• Welfare
• Higher education
• Development/Tourism
• Highways
• Correctional facilities

County

• Administration of unincorporated areas
• Property tax collection
• County wide programs
  • Law enforcement--Sheriff
  • Mental health/substance abuse
  • Development/Tourism

City

• Law Enforcement
• Land use
• Municipal services--water, sewer, electricity, bus

Districts

• Education
• Water conservation
• Insect control

Property Tax

• Two types
  • Real estate--house, lan
  • Personal property--cars, boats
• Tax base
  • Market value
    • Real estate--value based on:
      • Construction cost
      • Comparable sales
  • Personal property (car)
    • Value based on age
• Assessed value (value for tax purposes)
  • 55% of market for homes
• Tax rate
  • Set to yield needed tax revenue
• Problems with property taxes
  • Costly to administer
  • Regressive
• Appeals Process (how can people get their property valuations changed)
  • Unfair assessments
  • Hardship situations
    • Old age
    • Disability

Planning and Zoning

• Problems with unrestricted development
• Community master plans specify
  • Zoning--proper uses of land, housing types, lot sizes
  • Transportation and recreation plans
• Planning and Zoning Commissions
  • Functions
    • Approve subdivisions
    • Approve rezones
    • Approve home occupations
• Process
  • Public hearings and open decision-making

People Vote With Their Feet

• People are unlikely to leave U.S.But may move between states
• Several possible acceptable communities in a local area
  • People express their values by choice of a location
    • e.g., Education, environment, & recreation
    • e.g., Bedroom communities around a large city
• Problems faced by local government
  • Deterioration of inner cities
  • Segregated school systems