County and Municipal Government in North Carolina

Background / 28
Introduction / 28
Units of Government in North Carolina / 28
Counties / 28
Cities / 28
Generally / 28
Means of Organizing / 29
Organizing North Carolina Cities—By the Numbers / 29
County and City Governing Boards in North Carolina / 29
Generally / 29
Size of Board / 30
Length of Members’ Terms / 30
Election at Large or by District / 30
Election on a Partisan or Nonpartisan Basis / 30
Designation and Composition / 30
Presiding Officers on Governing Boards / 31
The Chair of the Board of Commissioners / 31
The Mayor / 31
Common Expectations of Board Chairs and Mayors / 32
Responsibilities of the Governing Board / 33
Statutory Duties—County Board of Commissioners / 33
Statutory Duties—City Council / 35
Vacancies on Governing Boards / 37
Counties / 37
Cities / 38
Organizing the Supervision of Officers and
Employees in Mayor–Council Cities / 38
Best Practices for County and City Governing Boards / 39
Exercising Caution in Speaking for the Governing Board / 42
Role of the Manager in North Carolina Local Governments / 42
Use of an Administrator in Mayor–Council Cities / 42
Procedures for Adopting a County–Manager
or Council–Manager Plan / 42
Adopting the County–Manager Form of Government / 43
Adopting the Council–Manager Form of Government / 43
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Board of Commissioner
and Mayor–Council Forms of Government / 45
Procedures for Changing the Governing
Board’s Structure / 45
County Board / 45
City Board / 45
Additional Resources / 46
About the Author / 46
Appendix 3.1A Summary Figures on the Structures, Forms
of Governing Boards of North Carolina Cities / 47
Appendix 3.1B Summary Figures on The Mode, Type of
Election of Governing Boards of North Carolina Cities / 48
Appendix 3.2A Numbers, Terms of North Carolina
Boards of County Commissioners / 49
Appendix 3.2B Distribution of North Carolina County
Commissioners by Mode of Election / 50
Appendix 3.3 2014 Municipal Forms of
Government in North Carolina / 51