LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

2. Why Do We Have Local Government? • Local Government Provides Services • Local government was created to provide services to meet some of the needs that people have. • Sometimes “local governments” are called “municipal governments”. • Some of the services provided by local governments are: • Public transportation (bussing, subways, etc…) • Police departments • Fire departments • Waste disposal • Parks & recreation • Animal control • Libraries • Streets & roads • Seniors’ facilities • Swimming pools & skating rinks

3. Why Do We Have Local Government? Local Government Collects Taxes Local governments spend large amounts of money providing services (like the ones listed above). To pay for these services, the local governments raise $$ through taxes. The government taxes people who own property (houses, businesses, land) – this is called “property tax”. People in a democracy are ‘responsible’ for paying taxes to pay for services. • Other Ways Local Government Collects Taxes: • User fees (skating rinks, swimming pools, licenses, etc..) • Transfer payments from other levels of government.

4. Why Do We Have Local Government? Local Government Makes Laws The local government makes rules called bylaws. Bylaws are rules that specify people’s behaviour – they keep people safe and help the community to run smoothly. Bylaws can only be enforced in the area that they have been passed – therefore, every community has its own bylaws. New bylaws are usually introduced by a councillor at a council meeting – the councillor makes a motion that the bylaw be passed – a motion has to be talked about 3 times before it can be voted on – this gives people a chance to speak out against the new bylaw.

5. Why Do We Have Local Government? Local Government Gives People a Voice Having a local government means that local people can make decisions that would be best for a community, instead of just people in a distant capital city who live somewhere else. By having a local government, regular people have a chance to be heard by the government.

6. How Are Local Governments Organized? • Alberta is divided into municipal areas that have their own local governments. • Urban local governments include cities, towns, and villages. • Rural local governments include municipal districts and countries. • First Nations reserves and Métis settlements also have local governments.

7. How Are Local Governments Organized? Making Decisions for the Community Mayors and councillors (aldermen) are elected to make decisions for the community. (Lethbridge Mayor: Rajko Dodic) (Lethbridge Aldermen: Jeff Carlson, Jeffrey Coffman, Faron Ellis, Liz Iwaskiw, Joe Mauro, Bridget Mearns, Ryan Parker, and Tom Wickersham.) During council meetings, they discuss issues and make decisions that affect the community. They often are part of committees that are responsible for certain areas (eg. parks & recreation, or waste management). Councillors also serve on advisory committees that advise the council on local issues. Normal citizens can also apply to sit on many of these advisory committees – another way people can be involved in local government.

8. How Are Local Governments Organized? Delivering Services to the Community Many people are hired to work for the local government. They are called civil servants. Examples of the types of jobs are secretaries, garbage collectors, swimming instructors, bus drivers, street repairers, mechanics, equipment operators, etc… The most important job is the Town or City Manager – every department reports to him

9. How Are Local Governments Elected? • Elections take place every 3 years. • The election process is as follows: • people announce their interest in the Mayor or Councillor (aldermen) positions • then they have to get nominated (complete official papers, gives info on you and those who nominated you – meaning those who think you would do a good job) • then they begin their campaign (make speeches, take part in debates, put up advertising signs, etc..), • then people in the city go out to the polling stations and vote for the candidates they think will do the best job. • The people with the most votes win those jobs.

10. How Can You Participate at the Local Level? For democracy to work, people need to be involved and participate. If nobody in the community got involved, then democracy would not work properly. Even kids can get involved by talking to local government officials about their concerns. Petitions are a way to get the attention of government officials. A petition is a written request that contains signatures of people who support a concern.

11. Why Do We Have School Boards? School boards are another type of local government. School boards make sure that education is provided for people. School boards make decisions about educational services and programming at schools. Because school board members live where they work, they can make decisions about our schools that are appropriate for their communities. The school board hires a superintendent who makes sure that these decisions are carried out. A person who serves on a school board is called a trustee. School board trustees are elected every 3 years at the same time as other members of local government.

12. Why Do We Have School Boards? • There are about 60 school boards in Alberta. Lethbridge has 2 school boards – Holy Spirit School Division (which Assumption school is part of), and Lethbridge 51 School District. • Following are the different choices of schools in Alberta: • Public schools – They are open to all students. • Separate schools – They generally have instruction in the Roman Catholic faith (eg. Our Lady of the Assumption School) plus the regular curriculum (subjects). • Francophone schools – Students get education in French. • Charter schools – They have the same curriculum as public schools, but also have a special focus (eg. science, music, religion, or athletics). • First Nations schools – Taught the First Nations languages plus the regular curriculum.

13. DEFINITIONS: Advisory committee: A committee made up of concerned citizens and members of government. They give advice to the council. Ballot: A piece of paper used for voting that lists the names of the candidates. Budget: A list of items that shows how much money will be spent on each item. Bylaws: Laws that are passed by a local government. Council: A group made up of councillors who make decisions for a local area. Councillor: A person elected to local government. Departments: Divisions of local government that provide various kinds of services to the community. Forum: A meeting place where public discussions occur. Local government: Is the administration of a city or municipality by elected officials who make decisions and laws about local issues and services Motion: An idea or proposal that is put forward for discussion at a meeting. Municipal area: A region that has its own local government. Municipal district: A rural area that has its own local government. Nominate: To identify a person as a possible candidate for an elected position. Petition: A written request that contains the signatures of people who support its content. Superintendent: The person responsible for running the schools in a jurisdiction. The position of superintendent is similar to that of the CAO in local government.

14. LOCAL GOVERNMENT