Counties are regional subdivisions of States to carry out local administrative functions.
Counties must deliver certain services, such as courts or public assistance, which are required to be made available throughout the state. Counties carry out programs mandated by higher levels of government and in doing so, counties receive the a greater share of their funding through intergovernmental fiscal transfers - much greater than that of cities. A charter permits a county to make changes from general law as the local voters desire. In California there is one consolidated city and county government - San Francisco. The voters mutually agreed to merge two separate levels of government.