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Ever wonder what local elected officials do? Here’s a guide to help with that.

There are some elections that are hard to ignore.

Picking presidents, for example. Or selecting members of Congress or the state Legislature. Or voting for who will be the next governor.

But those “big” elections only take place every other year. In between, contests with much less notoriety and usually much lower turnout are held: municipal elections.

While municipal elections might not have the panache of a presidential or gubernatorial, in many ways they’re more important. Township supervisors or commissioners, borough council members and mayors, school board directors — they’re the government officials who typically have the biggest impact on people’s daily lives.

They levy taxes and fix roads and maintain parks and provide policing and approve curriculum and much, much more.

Here’s a little bit more information about what, exactly, elected township, borough and school district officials do:

School board directors

What they do

According to the Pennsylvania School Board Association, school directors are both local and state officials. Although locally elected, school boards are agents of the state charged with the responsibility of fulfilling the constitutional mandate of providing the maintenance and support of a “thorough and efficient” system of education.

In essence, school boards have three functions: engage in strategic planning, setting policy and evaluating results.

Some of their required duties include adopting courses of study in consultation with the superintendent, establishing the length of the school term, adopting textbooks, hiring superintendents, entering into written contracts with professional employees and into collective bargaining agreements, adopting the annual budget, levying taxes and providing the necessary grounds and school buildings.

Compensation

School board members are considered volunteers and are not compensated.

Township supervisors

What they do

According to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, the Second Class Township Code charges the board of supervisors with the general governance of the township and gives the board both legislative and executive powers.

As such, the board of supervisors combines many of the roles found in separate branches of the state and federal governments. The board exercises its legislative functions by setting policy, enacting ordinances, adopting budgets and levying taxes.

The board also performs all executive functions such as formulating the budget, providing for ordinance enforcement, approving expenses and hiring and overseeing employees. It is important to note that the Township Code vests all authority and responsibility for the township in the board of supervisors, not the individual elected township supervisors.

Election to the office of township supervisor authorizes that individual to participate as a voting member at meetings of the board of supervisors. It is the board of supervisors, through majority action, that is the decision-maker in all township matters.

The township code gives the board of supervisors flexibility to determine how a particular township will operate on a day-to-day basis. Small townships may not have a formal department structure or may only have a road or public works department. In addition to public works, large townships will often have separate departments for parks and recreation, police, code enforcement, finance and water and sewer service, usually overseen by an appointed township manager. The organization of each township is based on local needs and is determined by the board of supervisors

Compensation

Each township commissioner is compensated for services based on the population they serve.

Population not more than 4,999: $1,875
Population 5,000 to 9,999: $2,500
Population: 10,000 to 14,999: $3,250
Population 15,000 to 24,999: $4,125
Population 25,000 to 34,999: $4,375
Population 35,000 or more: $5,000

Township commissioners

What they do

According to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, the First Class Township Code places general supervision of township affairs in the hands of the board of commissioners. Commissioners combine many of the roles found in separate branches or levels of the state and federal governments.

The board serves as the legislative body of the township – setting policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting budgets and levying taxes. Since there is no separately elected executive, the board may also perform executive functions such as formulating the budget, enforcing ordinances, approving expenditures and hiring employees.

In many townships, commissioners also play a large role in administrative activities and oversee the day-to-day operation of the township government. Because of a commissioner’s elected status, an individual in that position is often viewed as a community leader.

Commissioners are the proper recipients of complaints, ideas and suggestions concerning township affairs. In many cases, the commissioner is called upon to perform as a problem solver, acting as an agent for township citizens with municipal or even outside agencies.

Although assisted by a planning commission, many of the final decisions are made by elected officials.

Compensation

Each township commissioner is compensated for services based on the population they serve.

Population not more than 4,999: $3,145
Population 5,000 to 9,999: $4,190
Population 10,000 to 14,999: $5,450
Population 15,000 to 24,999: $6,915
Population 25,000 to 34,999: $7,335
Population 35,000 to 44,999: $8,385
Population more than 45,000: $210 per year per 1,000 residents

Borough council members

What they do

According to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, borough council functions in two distinct ways.

The first is as a legislative body like the General Assembly, enacting laws that set up and fund the borough government and regulate the activities of people living and businesses operating within the borough’s geographic boundaries.

The second is as a board of directors of a nonprofit corporation in which the council oversees the delivery of municipal services (other than the police department) on a day-to-day basis through the manager, secretary or other public officials.

By design, the council carries out its statutory responsibilities through a collaborative, deliberative process in which the majority rules and no one councilperson has any more authority than another to direct borough government operations unless such authority is specifically given to that person by the council body pursuant to the Borough Code.

Often the council is organized into committees of less than a majority of council members for the purpose of studying legislative issues in detail and making recommendations to the entire council to take or not take formal action.

Compensation

Each council member is compensated for services based on the population they serve.

Population not more than 4,999: $1,875
Population 5,000 to 9,999: $2,500
Population 10,000 to 14,999: $3,250
Population 15,000 to 24,999: $4,125
Population 25,000 to 34,999: $4,375
Population 35,000 or more: $5,000

Borough mayors

What they do

According to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, the mayor is the only elected executive officer in the borough government.

The mayor is the chief law enforcement officer of the borough and the elected official who takes charge during the time of an emergency. And, in contrast to borough council, the mayor acts alone in carrying out mayoral powers and duties, which are primarily in the areas of public safety and emergency response.

Although the mayor does not generally vote on legislative matters, they can vote in the event of a tie, veto an ordinance passed by council, attend and participate in all meetings of council and from time to time report to council on the state of the borough.

Compensation

Each mayor is compensated for services based on the population they serve.

Population not more than 4,999: Maximum of $2,500
Population 5,000 to 9,999: Maximum of $5,000
Population 10,000 to 14,999: Maximum of $7,500
Population more than 15,000: Maximum of $500 per year per 1,000 residents

Constables

What they do

The office of constable in Pennsylvania has existed since 1664, dating the elected office as the oldest form of law enforcement in Pennsylvania. Constables predate county sheriffs, local municipal police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Constables are sworn law enforcement officers who are empowered to carry out the business of the statewide district court system by serving warrants of arrest, mental health warrants, service of summons, complaints and subpoenas. They can also transport prisoners and enforce protection from abuse orders as well as orders of eviction and judgement levies.

Additionally, constables preserve the peace at local polling places during elections.

Compensation

Constables do not receive a set salary. They are paid a fee set by state law for each task performed for the district court.

Civil service fees are paid by the plaintiff. Summary warrant fees are charged to the defendant.

Auditors

What they do

According to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, the auditor examines the accounting records and accounting practices of the government agency.

They then express an informed opinion as to whether or not the balance sheet and the statement of revenues and expenditures prepared from the books and records present fairly the financial position and the results of operations of the municipality. They also provide an opinion on whether the municipality complied with applicable laws and regulations.

The independent review by the auditor includes judgments as to facts, supporting evidence and adherence to generally accepted accounting principles applied consistently from year to year. In addition to these broad assignments, the auditor should be alert to possible irregularities and fraud, as well as weaknesses in internal control.

Compensation

Compensation varies widely depending on the type and size of the municipality.


Source: Berkshire mont

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