Special districts
Special districts are a form of local government built around a specific function. Special districts have a wide variety of possible functions, but some of the most common types oversee libraries, hospitals, airports, utilities, conservation, fire control, and flood control. School districts are not considered special districts but share some similarities. Most, but not all, special districts have the ability to tax residents living in their jurisdiction.
Some special districts choose to run elections in concurrence with state or county elections, while others hold elections on separate dates. Special district boards can also be comprised of other elected officials, such as city council members, or be made up of citizens appointed by the municipal government. The geographic boundaries for special districts can differ from other forms of local government. For example, they may encompass part of a city, part of a county, or multiple counties.[1]
Number of special districts by state
As of 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau listed 38,542 special districts in the United States.[1]
See also
- Municipal government project
- County
- County commission
- County council
- County executive
- County mayor
- County seat
Footnotes
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