Government of San Joaquin County, California facts for kids
The Government of San Joaquin County is how San Joaquin County in California is run. It's set up by California's rules and laws. Many important jobs for the state of California are actually handled by county governments, like the one in San Joaquin County.
The county government provides many services for everyone in the county. These include things like:
- Helping with elections and registering voters.
- Keeping the peace and enforcing laws.
- Running jails.
- Keeping important records like birth certificates.
- Managing property records and collecting taxes.
- Providing public health services.
- Offering social services to help people.
Also, for areas in the county that aren't part of a city (called "unincorporated areas"), the county government acts as their local government.
The county government is made up of:
- The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, which has five elected members.
- Several other elected officials, like the San Joaquin County Sheriff, the San Joaquin County District Attorney, and the San Joaquin County Assessor.
- Many different county departments and groups that work under the County Administrator.
Some cities in the county, like Stockton and Tracy, have their own services. These include their own police, fire departments, libraries, parks, and rules for building. Other cities might ask the county to provide some or all of these services for them. Also, some parts of the government of California work directly within San Joaquin County, such as the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Contents
How the County Government Works
The Board of Supervisors
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors (often called the BOS) is like the county's main decision-making group. It has five members who are elected by the people. This board has three main roles:
- Making Laws: They can create rules, called ordinances, for the areas of the county that are not part of any city. If a rule affects the whole county, like how restaurants are rated, cities also need to agree to it.
- Managing Departments: They guide the different county departments on what to do and how to do it.
- Hearing Appeals: If someone disagrees with a local planning decision, the Board is the final place where they can appeal.
As of February 2017, the members of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors were:
- Miguel Villapudua (District 1)
- Katherine Miller (District 2)
- Tom Patti (District 3)
- Charles Winn (District 4 and Chairman)
- Bob Elliott (District 5)
Elected Officials
Besides the Board of Supervisors, there are other important officials in San Joaquin County who are elected by the public. These roles are required by California's laws.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff is in charge of law enforcement for areas of the county not covered by city police. They act like the police for these areas. Sometimes, cities might even hire the Sheriff's office to provide police services for them.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney is a lawyer who works for the public. Their job is to bring legal cases against people who are accused of breaking laws in San Joaquin County.
The San Joaquin County Assessor is the official who figures out the value of property in the county. This value is then used to calculate property taxes.
Other Important Departments
The Human Services Agency (HSA) helps manage several important programs in the county. These programs are designed to help people and families who need support. Some examples include:
- Medi-Cal, which helps people with healthcare costs.
- CalFresh, which helps people buy food (also known as food stamps).
- CalWORKs, which provides temporary financial help for families.
- Programs that help people with low incomes get healthcare.
Other Governments in the County
California State Government
The Superior Court of San Joaquin County is a court that handles legal cases for the entire county. It's not part of the county government, but rather a part of California's state court system. In the past, county governments used to own and take care of the courthouses. But now, the state government owns these buildings, so judges have more direct control over their workplaces. However, the county government still helps by providing security for the courthouses.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs a state prison called the Deuel Vocational Institution. This prison is located in an area of San Joaquin County that is not part of a city, near Tracy.
Stockton City Government
The Government of Stockton, California runs the city of Stockton. It has a Mayor and a City Council, along with many departments that work under the City Manager. These departments include the Stockton Police Department, Stockton Fire Department, and departments for public works and economic development. As of January 2013, Anthony Silva was the Mayor, and the City Council members were:
- Elbert Holman—District 1
- Katherine Miller—District 2
- Paul Canepa—District 3
- Diana Lowery—District 4
- Susan Talamantes Eggman—District 5
- Dale Fritchen—District 6
School Districts
San Joaquin County is also home to the San Joaquin Delta Community College District, which provides higher education opportunities.
Special Districts
The San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) is a group that helps manage the boundaries of cities and special districts within San Joaquin County. Special districts are local government groups that provide specific services, like water or fire protection, to certain areas.
