Council

The financial powers of the county are placed in the County Council, also known as the county’s fiscal body. The county is made up of seven elected Council members: one elected from each of four established districts and three elected by the county at large. Their terms of office are four years on a staggered basis. Some of the powers of the council include:

• Approving and fixing annual operating budgets of all county government offices and agencies

• Establishing salaries, wages, per diems, and other compensation for all county officials and employees

• Fixing tax rates and establishing levies on all county property for the purpose of raising funds to meet budget requirements in conducting county business as well as authorizing the borrowing of money in the form of bonds and notes

• Appropriating public funds, i.e., authorizing the expenditure of county money by particular officials or departments for specific purposes

• Authorizing certain purchases or sales of county owned land

• Non-binding review of budgets for certain non-elected boards in the county and other civil units

Meetings are normally held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Central time in the Meeting Room at the Courthouse.