Haralson County Board of Commissioners

Haralson County is governed by a five-person elected commission. Voters in each of four districts elect a commissioner with the chairman elected county-wide in the at-large post. The Commission Chairman also serves as the county's chief executive officer. Terms are for four years but staggered so the at-large post and two commissioners are elected during one election cycle and two years later the other two commissioners are elected.

The board meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Office located at 155 Van Wert Street in Buchanan. The board also has a work session on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

The board sets the direction and formulates policies for the county government, develops and approves the budget, authorizes expenditures, and approves or disapproves specific actions, such as rezoning of private property. The board also works to provide quality essential services for Haralson residents and as many other services as tax revenues allow.

Under the code of ordinances adopted in 2008, the board is authorized to:

levy taxes
make appropriations
fix rates and charges for services provided by the county
authorize the incurring of indebtedness
order work done where the cost is to be assessed against benefited property, and to fix the basis for such assessment
authorize and provide for the execution of contracts
establish, alter, open, close, build, repair, or abolish public roads, bridges, and ferries, according to law provided, however, that the chairman shall have the authority to accept subdivision plats when the requirements established by the board of commissioners for subdivisions have been met
establish, abolish, or change election precincts and militia districts according to the law
accept, for the county, the provisions of any optional statute where the statute permits its acceptance by the governing authority of the county
exercise all powers, duty, and authority in respect to zoning and planning
create and change the boundaries of special taxing districts authorized by the law
fix the bonds of county officers where same are not fixed by statute
enact any ordinances or other legislation which the county may be given authority to enact
determine the priority of capital improvements
call elections for the voting of bonds
exercise all of the power and authority formerly vested by law in the sole commissioner of the county together with the power and authority which is now, or may be, delegated by law to the governing authority of the county, by whatever name designated
appoint retained legal counsel and an independent county auditor and provide for their compensation
require all county officers to report on the general or specific conduct of the financial affairs of their respective offices and
make appointments to such other boards established by law to which the board of commissioners shall be entitled to appoint. This specific power shall not be exercised except by a majority vote of the entire board of commissioners.