Duties, Goals & Priorities

Duties of a County Commissioner

Counties in North Carolina are governed by an elected board of county commissioners. In Orange County, commissioners serve four-year terms. The Board of County Commissioners have many duties and authorities, including:

• Adopting the county's annual budget by June 30 of each year
• Establishing the annual property tax rate
• Appointing the county manager, county clerk, county attorney and tax administrator
• Appointing various officials and representatives to advisory boards and commissions
• Providing funding for construction of public school facilities for both public school systems in the county
• Determining level of local current expense funding for both public school systems in the county (Orange County ranked Number 1 in the state in local per pupil funding for 2015 to 2016 year)
• Regulating land-use and zoning outside municipal boundaries
• Providing for safety and welfare of all Orange County residents
• Long-range planning for county needs (Capital Investment Plan)
• Enacting local ordinances
• Calling for bond referenda
• Entering into contracts
• Establishing new programs and departments
• Serve as liaisons to local, state and federal boards and commissions