County Commission | The Magazine February 2017 | Page 31

the financial integrity
of the commission. The
Association strongly
supports the intent of
Alabama’s constitutional
language prohibiting the
enactment of unfunded
mandates and opposes
the establishment of such
mandates through federal or
state administrative actions.
Opposition to any federal or
state legislative, administrative,
or regulatory directives requiring
county government to assume
inspection, public safety, permitting
responsibilities or other duties
currently performed by the state or
federal agency.
personnel and administrative
functions carried out by the county
commission are essential to the
financial and operational health of
county government in Alabama. The
Association opposes any efforts that
will obstruct the commission’s ability
to effectively govern and to maintain
the administrative and financial well-
being of the services delivered by the
county commission.
g
Strategic Goals
In furtherance of this Founda-
tion Principle, the Association will
actively pursue the passage of legis-
lation to accomplish the following
strategic goals:
To amend the unfunded mandate
constitutional amendment to
provide that the exemption for
defining crimes apply only to
provisions of the law defining or
amending a crime.
n
Legislative Policy
In addition to its strategic goals,
the Association has adopted the fol-
lowing legislative policy consistent
with this Foundation Principle:
Opposition to federal and
state efforts to require county
government to assume any financial
or programmatic responsibilities
that are currently financed and/or
administered at the federal or state
level.
g
Opposition to any mandated and
unfunded requirement that counties
assume new programs established by
the federal or state government.
g
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Opposition to any legislative
or regulatory directives requiring
counties to provide housing,
supplies, equipment or other
expenses for a county coroner or
other county officers.
g
Opposition to state agencies
administratively eliminating
state services within a county for
budgetary or other reasons without
legislative approval.
g
Strategic Goals
In furtherance of this Founda-
tion Principle, the Association will
actively pursue the passage of legis-
lation to accomplish the following
strategic goals:
To provide that the county
commission sets the hours of
operation of county offices. To
clarify statutory language related to
use of county warrants and bonds.
n
To protect counties, officials,
employees, or agents against liability
n
County Operations
and Budget
Authority
Foundation Principle
The county governing body
serves as both the legislative and
administrative branch of government
at the local level – carrying out
both budgetary duties as well as
providing administrative leadership
for many functions. The budgetary,
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