A board of three County Commissioners serves as the general
administrative body for 87 of 88 Ohio counties; the exception is
Summit County with its charter form of government. County
Commissioners are elected to office like other county officials,
such as the Sheriff, Engineer and Auditor. However, they are seen
as the leaders of county government, and their authority goes a
long way toward supporting that viewpoint.
Given specific and limited authority by the state
legislature, County Commissioners hold title to all county
property, serve as the sole taxing authority for the county, and
control county purchasing. Most importantly, Ohio's 87 Boards of
County Commissioners are the budget and appropriating authority
for county government, meaning everyone, every agency, every
court, every other elected office holder depends on County
Commissioners for their budgets.
This means that County Commissioners must take a broad view
when making public policy and budget decisions. Given their impact
on the work of many other elected officials and different
departments, they must be astute in matters of law enforcement,
correction facilities, human services, business development, and
other areas. Given their budget-making authority, they must have a
good business sense matching available revenue to service needs.
County Commissioners also have statutory authority for
providing water and sewer services as well as solid waste (trash)
disposal. They hold hearings and rule on annexations. And, as noted
earlier, County Commissioners today are being given
responsibilities, such as making public assistance work, that were
once held by the state and federal government.
