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How Does County
Government Work?
Counties in North Carolina are created by the state for government administration. Cities and towns are other governments within county borders. There are 100 counties in North Carolina. Each county in North Carolina, regardless of its size, exercises powers and authority through its own elected board of commissioners. The board of commissioners is elected by citizens of the county and has many responsibilities for county government. Ordinances (laws) and other county policies are adopted by the board of commissioners.
The board of commissioners hires the county manager, the clerk to the board and the county attorney. Depending on the size of the county, the attorney(s) may work full time. Wake County employs a full-time legal staff that advises the board of commissioners, county manager and county departments. The clerk records meeting minutes and is responsible for other duties associated with the board of commissioners.
The county manager provides the day-to-day oversight of county work. The county manager supervises the work of every county department, except for those departments and agencies that have their own authority and are elected by the people (for example, sheriff, register of deeds and school board).
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