Government of Solano County, California facts for kids
The Government of Solano County helps manage daily life for people living in Solano County. It's set up by the California Constitution and state laws. County governments like Solano's handle many important tasks for the state.
This government provides services across the whole county. These include things like elections, keeping public records, collecting taxes, and managing public health. It also acts as the local government for areas not part of any city.
The Solano County government has a few main parts. There's an elected five-member Board of Supervisors. There are also other elected officials like the Sheriff-Coroner and District Attorney. Many county departments work under the County Administrator.
Some cities in Solano County, like Vallejo and Fairfield, have their own services. These include police, libraries, and parks. Other cities might ask the County to provide some of these services for them. Also, state government groups, like the Solano County Superior Court, work within Solano County.
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How Solano County Government Works
The Board of Supervisors
The Solano County Board of Supervisors (BOS) has five elected members. This board is like the county's main decision-making group. They create laws for areas not in cities. They also guide county departments on what to do. Plus, they make final decisions on local planning issues.
As of January 2013, the members of the Solano County Board of Supervisors were:
- Erin Hannigan—District 1
- Linda Seifert—District 2, Chairman
- Jim Spering—District 3
- John Vasquez—District 4
- Skip Thomson—District 5, Vice-Chairman
Elected Officials
Besides the Board of Supervisors, other officials are elected to help run Solano County. These roles are required by the California Constitution and state law.
The Solano County Sheriff-Coroner provides police services. This includes areas of the county that are not part of any city. They also help cities that choose to hire them for law enforcement.
The Solano County District Attorney is a lawyer who works for the public. They handle legal cases for serious and less serious crimes that happen in Solano County.
Other Important Departments
The Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) manages several state programs in the county. These programs help people with healthcare, food, and financial support. Examples include Medi-Cal (healthcare aid) and CalFresh (food assistance).
Other Governments in Solano County
California State Government
The Solano Superior Court covers the entire county. It is not a county department. Instead, it is part of California's state court system. In the past, counties owned and maintained courthouses. Now, the state government owns these buildings. This change happened in 2008 and 2009. County government still helps with courthouse security under a contract with the state.
The City of Vallejo Government
The Government of Vallejo is set up by the city's own rules. It has a Mayor and a City Council. Many departments and officers work under the City Manager. These include the Vallejo Police Department and the Vallejo Fire Department.
As of January 2013, the Mayor was Osby Davis. The Council members were:
- Hermie Sunga
- Marti Brown
- Stephanie Gomes
- Bob Sampayan
- Jesus Cristobal Malgapo
- Robert McConnell
School Districts
Solano County is home to the Solano County Community College District. Part of the San Joaquin Delta Community College District also serves the county. These districts manage local colleges.
Special Districts
The Solano County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) helps manage boundaries. It oversees most special districts and city limits within Solano County.
