Board of SupervisorsGeneral Powers
Section § 25200
This law section allows a county's board of supervisors to create and adjust the boundaries of election, road, and supervisorial districts as needed for convenience.
Section § 25201
Section § 25202
This law section says that the county board has the responsibility to set the value of property for tax purposes and collect taxes for county needs. Additionally, they can also collect taxes from a specific district for local projects like road repairs. However, they can't start these district taxes unless the majority of voters in that district agree to it in a vote.
Section § 25203
This law states that the county board oversees legal cases involving the county or any public entity it governs. If two-thirds of the board members agree, they can hire additional lawyers to help the district attorney or county counsel with these cases. Also, the board can allow non-attorney county officials to handle cases in small claims court for the county.
Section § 25204
This law says that the county board can take over and handle certain city tasks if the county's charter allows it.
Section § 25205
This law explains how the salary and expenses for a county officer performing both county and city duties should be split. If a county officer carries out city duties required by a city's charter, their pay and expenses can be divided by the board of supervisors. The split should reflect the time spent on county versus city tasks, with city-related costs covered by city funds and county tasks covered by county funds.
Section § 25206
This law allows the board to instruct the sheriff to attend their meetings, either personally or through a deputy. The sheriff's role is to maintain order and to deliver various legal documents, such as notices or subpoenas, as requested by the board.
Section § 25207
This law allows the board to carry out any legal actions or duties not specifically listed in this section if they are necessary for the board to effectively manage the county's legislative responsibilities.
Section § 25207.1
This law allows a county's board of supervisors to require individuals representing corporations, firms, or other organizations to register or disclose information, such as compensation or expenses, when trying to influence county decisions. These rules apply throughout the entire county, both in city areas and rural parts. 'County decisions' refer to any legislative, administrative, or quasi-judicial matters the board or affiliated bodies handle.
However, this requirement does not apply to licensed attorneys performing legal services that only they are authorized to do, ensuring their professional duties are not hindered.
Section § 25207.5
This law states that a county is allowed to share information with the public about its rights, responsibilities, properties, and its activities.
Section § 25208
This law allows the board of supervisors to hire people to help them with their responsibilities. They can also create rules about what qualifications these hired people need and what their job duties are.
Section § 25208.3
This law allows the board of supervisors in a county to hire an optometrist to provide eye care services. The optometrist must be licensed according to the regulations set by the Business and Professions Code.
Section § 25208.4
This law allows a county's board of supervisors to spend county money to help newly elected supervisors prepare for their roles. This includes costs for courses, travel, and materials if deemed helpful for doing their new job well.
The county must set up a local law detailing how this will work, including a process for supervisors-elect to request such training.
Section § 25208.5
This law states that the board of supervisors in a county has the same authority to organize and provide community recreation services as the governing board of a public authority in the education system.
Section § 25209
This law explains the process for correcting errors in property descriptions when a county in California is involved. If there's a mistake in the property description, making the conveyed property smaller or larger than intended, the county board of supervisors can agree on the error with the other party and correct it. They can do this without following the usual legal steps for selling county property or going to court.
If more property was inadvertently given to the county, the same correction process applies. Once the board issues a resolution on the issue, it is final for genuine buyers and lenders. However, this rule doesn’t apply if the error is in any legally required published property description, and it doesn't demand public notice for the correction unless the law requires it.
Section § 25209.1
This section allows the board of supervisors in any county or city-county in California, based on the county auditor's recommendation, to authorize the county treasurer to temporarily transfer funds to a school district that needs financial assistance. The transfer can only happen if the funds aren't needed immediately for other county payments and can be up to 50% of the district's previous year's Public Law 81-874 funds.
Schools have until June 1 of the same fiscal year to repay these funds without interest. Once the school receives its Public Law 81-874 funds, it must use them to repay the transfer. If repayment isn't made by the deadline, the county auditor will withhold the owed amount from the school's next tax revenue payment.
Section § 25209.3
Section § 25209.5
This law allows county boards of supervisors in California to take all necessary steps to participate in the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972. It authorizes counties to spend funds they receive under this act according to federally defined priorities, in addition to other spending powers counties already have.
Section § 25209.6
The board of supervisors can take necessary steps so the county can join a health maintenance program as outlined in U.S. federal laws, such as the Social Security Act. They can offer additional services to their members beyond the standard ones and manage prepayments for these services. This includes signing contracts and spending county funds as needed. If people can't afford these prepayments, the county can help cover the costs entirely if it decides they can't pay.