Duties & Strategic Goals

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

Strategic Goals 

The following strategic goals were adopted as part of the Board of County Commissioners' 2025-2029 Strategic Plan:

  • Environmental Protection and Climate Action

    • Promote sustainability and resiliency across the County and collaborate with our partners to activate our community, protect and preserve our natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Healthy Community

    • Increase equitable access to care and social safety net programming to promote the physical, social, and mental well-being of our community

  • Housing for All

    • Promote equitable and accessible housing and address housing disparities through policies, partnerships, and collaboration to create a thriving community.

  • Multi-modal Transportation

    • Collaborate with our regional partners to expand, integrate/connect, and provide accessible public transportation options.

  • Public Education/Learning Community

    • Enhance and maintain quality school operations and infrastructure and cultivate lifelong learning.

  • Diverse and Vibrant Economy

    • Foster an environment that attracts and retains sustainable and diverse businesses and visitors, employment opportunities and diversifies our tax base.

More information on the Strategic Plan is available here.