TEXT 2: New York counties

New York counties began as entities established by the State Legislature to carry out specified functions at the local level on behalf of the state. During the 20th century, county government in New York underwent major changes in function, form and basic nature.

The counties in New York are no longer merely subdivisions of the state that primarily exist to perform state functions. The county is now a municipal corporation with geographical jurisdiction, home rule powers and the fiscal capacity to provide a wide range of services to its residents. To some extent, counties have evolved into a form of “regional” government that performs specified functions and which encompasses, but does not necessarily supersede, the jurisdiction of the cities, towns and villages within its borders.

New York State outside New York City is divided into 57 counties. The five boroughs of the City of New York function as counties for certain purposes, although they are not organized as such nor do they operate as county governments. Unless otherwise indicated, references to counties in this chapter will apply only to those outside New York City.

Counties in New York are very diverse in population and demographics. The 2000 Census populations of the counties vary from Suffolk County's 1, 419, 369 to Hamilton County's 5, 379. St. Lawrence County is the largest in geographical area, with over 2, 700 square miles, and Rockland is the smallest, with 175 square miles. The most densely populated county is Nassau County with more than 4, 500 people per square mile, and the most sparsely populated is Hamilton County, with fewer than 3 people per square mile.

Of the state's 57 counties outside New York City, 21 contain no cities. All counties include towns and villages, although the number of each varies widely, from 32 towns in St. Lawrence, Cattaraugus and Steuben counties to three towns in Nassau County, and from Hamilton and Warren counties' one village each to Nassau County's 64 villages.

The foregoing statistics indicate that it can be deceptive to speak of counties in New York State as though they were all alike. New York counties are among the most urban and the most rural in the nation, and the interests, concerns and governmental expectations of their residents are similarly diverse.

Oswego County Guide To Governments

TEXT 3: State and Local Government. Innovations in Public education

Public education is a good case study of how the states are playing an increased role in public policy. On average, U.S. states devote almost 30 percent of their budgets to education, the largest single item in most state budgets. As state spending for education has increased, the states began to play a larger role in education, holding local school districts accountable to state standards. Most states now require periodic testing of students to mark the progress of learning. When students fall below state standards, the states require special remedial programs, and, if all else fails, the state can even take over the actual day-to-day operations of an under-performing school district. Many states also require the testing of teachers. Many states now require that prospective teachers demonstrate their competency through testing before they can be certified to teach. Several states go further and require that teachers undertake programs of in-service training and continuing education in order to maintain their certification.

Testing is not the only state innovation to improve education. Many states are experimenting with limited privatization in the provision of education services. Several states, for example, provide tuition vouchers or tax deductions to enable students to study at nonpublic, private schools. For instance, in Pennsylvania, a limited number of public schools in Philadelphia are now operated by outside, private agencies. Many states have also authorized “charter schools,” schools operated by parents’ groups and others within the framework of the public school system. However, the results of these experiments in privatization have yet to be fully evaluated.

The states have initiated many other innovations in education, such as governance issues. For example, Kentucky has mandated parent teacher councils attached to every school building. These councils have significant authority over budget and curriculum decisions. Other reforms attempt to improve the quality of education in specific disciplines. North Carolina, for example, in an attempt to improve science education, provides opportunities for the most gifted students to study science at local colleges and universities. To bring practical experience into classrooms, the state of New Jersey permits individuals retired from the military, business and government to teach in the public schools without going through the normal teacher certification process. Several states have adopted systems of “merit pay,” basing teacher salary increases on performance rather than on longevity. The perceived crisis in education has brought about new “public-private partnerships” in many communities. Most of these partnerships involve local businesses and neighborhood schools. For example, the Birmingham, Alabama, law firm, Bradley Arant, has partnered with the Powell Elementary School and provides tutoring to under-performing students, purchases some school supplies and materials, and makes its copying facilities available to teachers to duplicate school materials.

IIP Electronic Journals,Vol. 8

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 1095