Structure & Representation
Madison County is organized under the township form of County
government[cite: 6]. The County Board Chairman is elected at
large by all of the voters in the County[cite: 6]. The County is
divided into 26 County Board Districts with equal
populations[cite: 6]. Each district elects one member to the
County Board[cite: 6]. The Madison County Board functions as the
legislative branch of the County Government and is responsible
for adopting all ordinances for the governance of Madison
County, approves the County budget and levies taxes[cite: 6].
Board Chairman & Committees Appointment
The County Board Chairman presides over the meetings of the
County Board and recommends appointments for department heads
and various boards and commissions, which is approved with
advice and consent of the County Board[cite: 6]. The County
Board elects by simple majority a member of the Board to serve
as Chairperson Pro Tem and a different member of the Board to
serve as Vice Chairperson Pro Tem for a term of two years[cite:
6]. A Chairperson Pro Tem or Vice Chairperson Pro Tem may be
removed, with or without consent[cite: 6].
The Chairperson Pro Tem appoints Board members to serve on the
standing committees of the Board[cite: 6]. These committees
maintain an informed relationship with the departments and
offices under their oversight[cite: 6]. The Chairman of each
committee regularly reports to the Chairperson Pro Tem and the
full Board on the operations of their respective
departments[cite: 6]. The committees study issues within their
areas of responsibility that are assigned to them and submit
recommendations and resolutions to the full Board for
action[cite: 6].
Powers, Duties & County Administrator
The County Board passes all ordinances, rules, and regulations
to implement the powers granted to counties[cite: 6]. The Board
approves all contracts and expenditures, and does all other acts
necessary to exercise the corporate powers of the County[cite:
6]. It has the authority to levy taxes for the support of County
Government operations[cite: 6]. The Board has the task of
reviewing and adopting the County's annual budget submitted by
the County Board Chairman[cite: 6]. It purchases and maintains
all real and personal property owned by the County[cite: 6]. The
Board also approves and supervises the use of all federal and
state grants[cite: 6].
The County Administrator works at the direction of the County
Board to carry out Board policy, to assist in the management of
Board departments and to coordinate operations with Countywide
officeholders[cite: 6].
