Maryland has 23 counties. The state constitution writes Baltimore City as an independent city that is the functional equivalent of a county and is separate from each county – for example, there is also a Baltimore County, but the county seat is in Towson, not the City of Baltimore. Outside of Baltimore, all cities are the same, and there is no difference between a municipality called a city or a city. Cities and municipalities are approved by law. Special districts are all organized local entities, with the exception of the four categories listed above, which are authorized by state law to exercise certain functions under the district charter or other constitutive document, and enjoy sufficient administrative and fiscal autonomy to be considered separate governments; [22] Known by various titles, including districts, agencies, agencies, commissions, etc., as set out in enabling legislation. A special district may serve the territories of more than one State if it is determined by an interstate treaty. Special districts are very popular, having experienced “phenomenal growth” from 1957 to 2007 and “almost tripling”. [23] Independent and assigned government units (excluding school district administrations) that exist as separate units with considerable administrative and fiscal independence from general local government. Special district governments provide specific services that are not provided by existing general-purpose governments. Most perform a single function, but in some cases, their enabling legislation allows them to provide multiple types of services, usually related.
Services in these districts range from basic social needs such as hospitals and fire protection to less visible mosquito control and cemetery maintenance tasks. The Census Bureau`s Special District Government Classification includes a variety of entities, most of which are officially called districts or agencies. [21] Virginia is divided into 95 counties and 38 cities. All cities are independent cities, meaning they are separate and independent of any county where they are located near or within a country. Virginia`s cities are therefore the equivalent of counties because they do not have a superior local government intervening between them and the state government. The Virginia equivalent of what would normally be a city incorporated into another state, such as a county subordinate municipality, is a city. For example, there is a Fairfax County as well as a completely independent city from Fairfax, which is not technically part of Fairfax County, although the City of Fairfax is the county seat of Fairfax County. In Fairfax County, however, is the city of Vienna, which is part of Fairfax County. Similar names do not necessarily reflect relationships; Franklin County is far from the city of Franklin, while Charles City is an unincorporated area in Charles City County and there is no city of Charles. While both have the power to declare that an emergency exists, it is often the mayor, city manager or county council who declares the emergency first because they can act more quickly than council as a body. (The Board or Commission should hold a special meeting under RCW 42.30.080 to declare an emergency.) Although not required by law, some local laws require the legislature to ratify the executive`s declaration of emergency.
See, for example, Longview Municipal Code, c. 10.60. The City Attorney`s client is the City as a unit, and the City Attorney`s role is to provide legal advice to all branches of city government, including the legislative and executive branches.