In the United States, the county executive is the highest-ranking elected or appointed official in a regional government. This official collaborates with a county board of commissioners to develop policies that enable regional government to function. To stop ineffective or expensive proposals, an executive can use his or her veto power over resolutions passed by the county board. County executives are in charge of the county’s day-to-day operations, such as human resources, waste management, and land-use policies. Working with local residents to resolve issues within the authority of county government is an important duty of a county executive.
To help their constituents, county executives work with individual members of the elected county board as well as the entire board. On a regular basis, an executive meets with subcommittee chairs to develop agendas and discuss potential issues. The county executive, along with the most senior member, frequently preside over board meetings. Additional responsibilities on the board may include scheduling special hearings and arbitrating board member disputes. If the county laws do not grant the executive veto power, this legislative role may include voting.
If the executive has veto power, the relationship between the executive and the board members can be tense. Measures passed by the board can be overturned by county executives who have veto power. Often, county laws allow the board to override the executive’s veto with a large majority of the board’s votes.
The majority of a county executive’s responsibilities revolve around ensuring that county offices run smoothly on a daily basis. The executive manages human resources and payroll experts in order to hire new employees while keeping wages and benefits costs under control. Garbage and recycling pickup is coordinated by county executives in collaboration with mayors and other local officials. To deal with environmental issues, the executive office might work with regional officials. The county executive is often in charge of land-use policies, such as the creation of permit applications and the maintenance of public lands.
The executive’s office is frequently looked to by county residents for leadership on regional issues. County executives are required to communicate with constituents via letter and in person as part of their responsibilities. Residents’ correspondence is handled by aides and interns in the executive’s office, who are guided by the executive. A series of monthly office hours where the county executive sits down with residents to discuss county affairs is another form of constituent outreach. When major resolutions are pending before the county board, executives frequently schedule forums across the county.