1. Ch. 24
Local Government

2. 24-1
Structure of
Local Government

3. Definitions
• County
• City / Municipality (incorporated; has charter
from state)
• City / Community / Census Designated Area
(CDA) (unincorporated county)
• Suburb
• Metropolis

4. County
• Run by County Board of Supervisors
• Provides services mandated by state
• Provides services to cities and
unincorporated communities

5. Cities vs.
Unincorporated County
• San Diego has 18
incorporated cities, and
many more unincorporated
communities

6. San Diego County
Elected Officials
• Board of Supervisors
• Sheriff – patrols, runs jails
• District attorney – prosecutes crimes
• Treasurer / Tax Collector
• Assessor / Recorder / County Clerk
– Assessor – property value
– County Clerk – birth certificates,
marriage licenses, etc.

7. County Departments
• Public Safety
• Financial & General Government
• Land Use & Environmental
• Health & Human Services
• Community Services

8. Public
Safety
•

9. Health & Human Services
• Mental Health
• Public Health – immunizations, etc.
• Seniors / Independent Living
• Children – foster care, adoption, etc.

10. Land Use & Environmental
• Planning
• Building Inspection & Permits
• Park & Recreation
• Air Pollution Control District

11. Community Services
• Registrar or Voters
• Housing
• Animal Services
• Library

12. Special Districts
• Schools
• Community colleges
• Water supply
• Landscape and Lighting

13. Intergovernmental
Agencies
• SANDAG (San Diego County
Association of Governments)
• TransNet – transportation system
development, through half-cent voter-approved
local sales tax, in effect since 1987
• MTS (San Diego Metropolitan
Transit System)

14. San Diego
Independent Agencies
• Created by California Legislature
• Funded by “user fees,” not taxpayer dollars:
– San Diego County Regional Airport
Authority
– Port District (“Unified Port of San Diego”)
• Member cities: San Diego, National City,
Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado

15. San Diego
• Went from Council-Manager form to
Strong Mayor-Council form in 1995
• Charter overhaul
• Ethics Commission / scandals
– Chargers stadium scandal
– Underfunded Pension Fund scandal

16. 24-2
Serving Localities

17. “Big Five” City Services
• Police
• Fire
• Park & Rec (parks, pools)
• Trash (“Sanitation,” “Solid Waste,”
“Environmental Services,” “Refuse”)
• Libraries

18. Other Possible Big City
Expenses / Services
• Legal services (city attorneys, public
defenders)
• Capital expenses
– Roads
– Sports facilities
– Performing arts centers
– Urban renewal / Redevelopment
• Human Services
– Childcare (before / after school)
– Homeless services
• Community Services
– Lifeguards
– Public Art

19. Usually Privately Funded
• Museums?
• Symphony?

20. Private Utility Companies
• Gas & Electric
• Telephones
• Cable TV

21. 24-3
Challenges of Urban Growth

22. Redevelopment
• California Redevelopment law
• San Diego has 17 Redevelopment areas
• Tax increment financing
• Community Development Block Grants

23. San Diego
16 Redevelopment areas

24. Managed Growth Initiatives
• San Diego – Prop A – 1985
• Oceanside – Prop A – 1987
– Struck down by court in 1995
• Escondido –Prop S – 1998
• San Marcos - ??