What do county boards of supervisors do in California? Here’s what to know
What do county elected officials actually do? County government has a huge swath of responsibility.
But what effect does the county have on your day-to-day lives?
California State Association of Counties CEO Graham Knaus broke down the responsibilities of county boards of supervisors and answered some of the broader questions voters may have ahead of the primary election.
Here’s what to know:
What makes county government important?
County government in California is the “most complex level of government” the state has, according to Knaus.
“There is more that the California state government has asked counties to do here than anywhere else in the country. It’s not even close,” said Knaus.
For example, county government is responsible for running child support systems like foster care on behalf of the federal and state governments. Additionally, counties are responsible for the collection of property tax and maintaining roads and bridges in unincorporated areas which is critical for those more rural parts of county government.
“Counties have a very paramount role in ensuring that services are delivered in the way that communities would like them to be to the greatest degree possible,” Knaus said.
What does the county board of supervisors does?
The board of supervisors in each county is responsible for ensuring the implementation of federal and state priorities and overseeing the departments that deliver those services in the community.
“They have a critical role in adopting the local budget for the county and ensuring that it is responsible and responsive to community priorities, and they sit as the local decision-making body on the vast majority of services in California,” said Knaus.
The board serves as legislative, executive and quasi-judicial roles. It manages litigation involving the county, sets priorities, oversees departments and programs, and supervises other county officials, according to the California State Association of Counties.
Does the board always have five members?
All but one county has five supervisors on the board. The one exception is San Francisco which has both an elected mayor and an 11-member Board of Supervisors.
Knaus said last year an initiative in Los Angeles County was approved to expand its board add an elected county executive, which will begin in 2028. This will then expand the board from five to nine members in 2032.
What are the requirements to become a member of a county board of supervisors?
In order to run for a seat on the board of supervisors, a person must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the county and district they are running in.
Knaus said community leadership is about connection with those in your community and understanding that public service is critical for the governmental system to work.
How to vote in this year’s primary election
The deadline to register to vote for the June 2 primary election is Monday, May 18, according to the California Secretary of State.
All active registered California voters will receive a ballot for the primary election. Officials will begin mailing ballots no later than Monday, May 4.
California has same-day voter registration for those who miss the May 18 deadline. Voters who conditionally register can cast provisional ballots in the two weeks leading up to Election Day at early voting sites. Voters can do the same on Election Day at their local polling location, according to the California Secretary of State.
To find your closest polling place and ballot drop box visit the California Secretary of State’s website.
