StatE and local Government

The closest government to the people Local and State governments are the first forms of government that we come in contact with as children. Usually through schools we learn about both the assistance provided to us and the control that government has over us. As teen and young adults, we usually first feel the effects of local and state government through taxes on our purchases and deductions from our wages. We may also learn the fear of government as we come in contact with local and state law enforcement.

The Federal System & State government The United States has a federal system of government where power is shared between a central government and states. The 10th amendment gives certain reserved powers to states, such as local police, school boards, state judiciary, drivers licenses, marriage licenses, etc.

State Government State government copy the federal government system with its three branches and its checks & balances. Governors are like the President (executive) State legislatures are like our Congress with a house and senate. (Louisiana has 105 members in its House and 39 in its Senate) except Nebraska which has a unicameral (one house) legislature with 49 members (smallest in U.S.) State Courts are like Federal Courts with their three level but the judges are usually elected.

Local Government All local government is created by the state. County government is the largest form of local government. Parishes in Louisiana, Boroughs in Alaska Some places within a county are incorporated and provide their own services such as police, education, hospitals, prisons, taxes, etc. Examples include New Orleans and Kenner. These municipalities or cities have their own “constitution” called a city charter.

Special Districts Special districts are a unit of government that deals with a specific function such as education, water supply, levees, or transportation and may cross over multiple counties or cities. Boards are either elected or appointed and the Superintendent is hired as a manager by the Board. An example is the St. Charles School Board which controls all public education in St. Charles parish.

Louisiana Sales Taxes A news report last year from the Tax Foundation found that Louisiana's average combined state and local sales tax rate was 9.98 percent in 2017. That is the highest average rate out of all 45 states that have a sales tax.

Expenditures- Spending Government Finances Federal State Local Receipts-Revenue Expenditures- Spending 1. Individual Income Tax (biggest chunk out of your check) 2. Payroll Tax (social security and medicare out of your check) 1. social security 2. Medicare and Health 3. Military 1. Grant-In-Aid from Feds (payment to states) 2. Sales Taxes 1. Welfare (Medicare, Housing, TANF, Snap, Medicaid, School Lunch, WIC, Milk Program, etc.) 2. Higher Ed. (College, Tops, Community colleges) 1. Grant-In-Aid from State (payment to parishes 2. Property Tax 1. Elementary and Secondary Ed. 2. Hospitals and Health 3. Water, Sewerage, Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7f6Z26w0yY

Local Government Types City Charters in all states allows for one of 3 types of government: mayor council, council-manager, or commission form Mayor–Council: where the mayor is the chief executive and the council is the legislature. They are all elected separately. Council passes ordinances (or local laws) and the mayor enforces them. Vast majority of all the cities/towns in the U.S. have this form of government

Local Government Types The Council-Manager form is where the people elect the council and the council appoints/hires the City Manager who serves a similar function as a Mayor. The City Manager is hired or fired by the Council with a majority vote. 2nd most popular form of government. T.C.​ Broadnax​ Dallas Sheryl Sculley San Antonio

Local Government Types The Commission form of government is essentially the combining of the Mayor/Manager position with the city council. Each council member, known as a commissioner, is in charge of a department. The Commission form was first created in 1900 in Galveston, Texas after a hurricane totally destroyed the city, killing 8000 people and costing over $100 billion in damages