County Government
County government was originally formed as an administrative arm of the state. Over the years, counties have taken on additional responsibilities and now run many programs for the benefit of county residents. For example, county governments build, maintain, and plow county roads. They develop and operate county parks and various recreational services. They also have programs that help families in need, improve residents' health, reduce crime, and provide numerous other public services. They operate libraries, assess property taxes, and administer the tax collection system. They maintain property records and keep a variety of other vital records, including birth and death records, marriages, deeds and mortgages.
