County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprising three to five members. In some counties within Georgia, however, a sole commissioner holds the authority of the commission.
Each commission acts as the executive of the local government, levying local taxes, administering county governmental services such as correctional institutions, courts, public health oversight, property registration, building code enforcement, and public works. The system has been supplanted in large part, as disparate sparsely-settled regions become urbanized and establish tighter local governmental control, usually in municipalities, though in many of the more rural states, the county commission retains more control, and even in some urbanized areas, may be responsible for significant government services.
Various counties nationwide have explored expanding from three members to five.History
, colonial founder of Pennsylvania is credited with originating the system of County Commissioners in the United States.
On February 28, 1681, Charles II granted a land charter to William Penn to repay a debt of £16,000 owed to William's father, Admiral William Penn. This was one of the largest land grants made in history, to one individual. It was called Pennsylvania. William Penn, who wanted it called New Wales or Sylvania, was embarrassed at the change, but King Charles would not rename the grant. Penn established a government with two innovations that were much copied in the New World: the county commission, and freedom of religious conviction.
