Elect More Officials

Elect More Officials

In Rappahannock

For its size, Rappahannock County has more elected officials on its payroll than do most communities across the country. . A comparative study of the governing process shows that tbe local area is administered by 26 elected officials, equivalent to 55 per 10,000 population.

Throughout the United States, by way of comparison, the average number of elected officials at the local level is 26 per 10,000 people.

The figures are from a report released by the Department of Commerce, based upon its recent Census of Governments. It is the first such survey since 1962.

Nationally, it shows, there are 508,720 elected officials in local government positions. The North Central States, with about one-fourth of the total population, accounts for nearly half of them. Virginia has 3,444.

In various parts of the country, it is found, the ratio of elected officials to population varies widely from the general average.

The reason for it is that there are great differences in local government setups. In most of the South, for example, there is a comparatively simple governmental structure which makes no provision for organized townships.

Also, their school systems commonly involve largei geographical areas than elsewhere are more widely administered by appointive rather than elective boards.

Of the 26 elected officials serving Rappahannock County 17 are connected with the county itself and 9 with municipalities

In localities where there are officials serving more than one unit of government, the totals have been adjusted accordingly

All told, according to the