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History of County Government City, Village, State, Fed Officials | Township Officials The role of county government as an administrative arm of the state and
a unit of self government can be traced as far back as 603 A.D. to an
area in southern England that was divided by a king into territories
which became known as "shires".
Shires were controlled by the monarchy through the appointment of a governing official. The term shire was used in England until the fifteenth century when the term "county" was adopted. Since the county was the chief administrative area, the concept of local control and responsiveness to the people became a basic principle of English heritage. County government evolved in England over several centuries and was brought to the United States with the English colonizers. (At left, newly renovated Portage County Court House.) American independence fostered numerous changes to American government, including the strengthening of state governments and more defined county roles. Today there are 3,139 county-type governments in the United States. County Government in Ohio In l979, the electors of Summit County adopted a charter that replaced the statutory three-member board of county commissioners with an elected county executive and seven-member county council. All other elected officials remained the same. County officials are elected in even numbered years to four-year terms with the exception of judges, who have six-year terms. Common pleas, probate and county court judges are established by statute pursuant to authority granted by the Ohio Constitution. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three members who serve staggered terms. Two county commissioners are elected in an even numbered year, and the third commissioner is elected two years later. Compensation for all county elected officials is set by the Ohio General Assembly and varies with the population of the county. Political subdivisions in Portage County include
*5 cities, 7 villages and 18 townships. Portage County Government Administration Portage County Board of Commissioners Overview The commissioners' office acts as the liaison between almost every department of the entire county, including the courts, outside agencies and community service organizations. The commissioners fiscally oversee the General Fund Budget of the county and are the appropriating authority for all county tax dollars. Each county elected official is charged to perform the duties of their individual elected office, but the Board of County Commissioners performs administrative and fiscal duties that coordinate total county operations. There are 23 departments that fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Board of Commissioners.
Additional new and expanded facilities include the Administration Building, Justice Center, Water Resources, Courthouse, Juvenile Court & Detention Center, Auditor's Office, Auto Title and the Portage County Treasurer. Below, the county engineer's facility.
449 South Meridian Street. P. O. Box 1217 County Government.PDF | City, Village, State, Fed Officials | Township Officials |
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The County Commissioners
are
responsible for the construction and maintenance of county owned
property, which includes many public facilities such as the new Portage
County Nursing Home. The anchor facility for the Portage County
Seniors Complex at Robinson Memorial Hospital features two stories of
resident rooms and a full basement for state-of-the-art service and
support for its occupants. (See photo on 
