HB2031

THE CONTEXT: The powers of a county must be exercised only by the county BOS or by agents and officers acting under its authority and authority of law. The county BOS has the power to: 1) sue and be sued; 2) purchase and hold lands within its limits; 3) make such contracts and purchase and hold such personal property as may be necessary to the exercise of its powers; 4) make such orders for the disposition or use of its property as the interests of the inhabitants of the county require; 5) levy and collect taxes for purposes under its exclusive jurisdiction as are authorized by law; and 6) determine the budgets of all ele...

WHAT THE BILL DID: Decreases the population threshold, from 150,000 to 125,000 persons, for a county to submit to the electors the question on whether to change from a three-member to a five-member county board of supervisors (county BOS).

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the government process for county supervisors more definite and accountable. It would decreases the population threshold, from 150,000 to 125,000 persons, for a county with a county BOS of three persons to submit to the electors in the county the question on whether the county should elect five members to the county BOS, and would also allows, rather than requires, the county to submit to the electors the question on whether the county should elect five members to the county BOS, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.