L
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R
EVIEW
1.What are the different kinds of municipalities in Pennsylvania?
2. Upon what basis is the class of a county determined?
3.What are elected officials called who run the county government?
4.What is the name given for a place fromwhich county government is run?
5. Describe at least five tasks that county commissioners perform.
6. How does home rule differ from themost common kind of county government?
7. Name three different kinds of local government.
8.What two thingsmust happen in order for a city to change its class status?
9. Describe two common forms of local government for boroughs and cities.
10. Identify three other kinds of services provided by boroughs and cities.
11. If local government is not located in a city or borough, where is it located?
12.What is themain difference between a 1st class and 2nd class township?
Parkingmeters help raise
money for local governments.
Our Local and County Governments
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In the other kind of city or borough government, there is an
elected town council. However, the town council hires a
city
manager
tomake sure the laws are carried out. Many city
managers have been trained to run local government more
effectively. Cities and towns with this kind of government can
have amayor in addition to a city manager.
Each city and borough also has employees with special
jobs. For example, the police chief enforces the laws within
his/her borough or city. The tax collector receives the tax money
that the community needs to run the local government. Workers
are hired to pick up trash, collect recyclable objects, and
maintain water and sewer services.
Townships also have their forms of government within the
county. Townships are geographic areas attached to or
bordering on boroughs and cities. They are divided into first and
second class townships. A township becomes a first class one
by havingmore than 300 residents per squaremile, and by
having its residents vote for 1st class status. There are 91 first
class townships and 1,457 second class townships.
Citizens of 1st class townships elect five officials called
commissioners for four years. Citizens of 2nd class townships
elect three
supervisors
for six-year terms of office to run the
local government. Supervisors and commissionersmanage the
services provided by local government. The chart below
describes their main roles.
Major Duties of Supervisors and Commissioners
• prepare budgets
•maintain local roads
• provide water and sewer services
• supervise parks and recreation facilities
• establish
zones
for land use
• improve ambulance and fire department services
Whether it is the state, county, city, borough, or township,
each formof government has the power to obtain and spend
tax dollars as declared necessary by that formof government.
Of course, a budget needs to be prepared and approved by the
leaders of county and local government.
