Transcript Structure of Government - American Public Works Association

Roles of Local/State/Federal
Legislative- Executive Bodies
Bill Ebel, City Manager
City of Overland Park, KS
Roles of Local/State/Federal LegislativeExecutive Bodies
Objectives:
Understand the form and function of local
government
•
Be familiar with State and Federal public works
agencies
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Be familiar with City/County/ State public works
agencies
•
Important Roles of Government
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Revenue – taxation
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Income tax
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Property tax
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Sales Tax
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User fees (utility fees, fines, et al)
Expenditures
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Operating
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Capital
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Maintenance
Policy direction
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Community standards
Structure of Government
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Feds: Executive/Legislative/Judicial
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State: Executive/Legislative/Judicial
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County: >Commissioners + other elected officials
>Executive/Council/Judges
City: >Strong Mayor/Council
>City Manager/Council
>City Commission
Special Districts: Executive/Board
Role of the Federal Government
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Pass legislation affecting public works
Develop long term infrastructure strategies
Manage infrastructure on federal lands
Regulate how infrastructure is managed in areas where the
national interest is involved
Pass out money that congress authorizes for state and local
infrastructure projects
Incident management
State
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Maintain highways, water resources,
state parks, waterways, etc.
Various state regulatory agencies (Fish
and Game, Water Quality, State Health,
etc.) impact how cities and counties do
business.
Interaction between local agencies and
the state is not always amicable,
particularly with regard to finances,
since they are competing for the same
resources.
Incident management
County
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Traditionally County Road
Districts
Acts just like a City PW in
unincorporated area
Also may act as the NPDES
coordinating entity for the
county and cities
Counties generally have
significant social welfare
responsibilities
Incident management
City/Local
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May be full service or limited
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Streets
Stormwater
Water
Wastewater
Power Generation
Solid Waste
May or may not have charter
(“Home Rule”)
Incident management …first responder!
Special Districts
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Set up for many purposes – for PW however, water and sewer
utility districts are most significant.
Other special districts of interest to PW are those that finance
construction and maintenance, such as lighting districts,
drainage and floodway districts
Summary
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Public works is a fundamental mission of government at all
levels
The resources you receive compete with other missions of
government
Resources are distributed through a political process of
deliberation, negotiation, and decision
Questions?