A
board of three County Commissioners serves as the general administrative
body for Hocking County. County Commissioners are elected for
a term of four years. Two are elected in the presidential election
year and one in the gubernatorial year. County Commissioners
are elected to office like other county officials, such as 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.
The
Board of Commissioners operates by adopting resolutions, which
require approval of at least two of the Commissioners. Although
Commissioners are considered the legislative authority of the
county, they cannot make laws. The powers, which the Board of
Commissioners may exercise, are spelled out in the Ohio Revised
Code.
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, Boards of County Commissioners are the budget
and appropriating authority for county government.
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 the 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.
Commissioners
Minutes
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must have Adobe Reader to view the Minutes and Notices.
A
board of three County Commissioners serves as the general administrative
body for Hocking County. County Commissioners are elected for
a term of four years. Two are elected in the presidential election
year and one in the gubernatorial year. County Commissioners
are elected to office like other county officials, such as 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. 
