Policy Priorities Influence of interest groups, party competition, and environmental factors such as economics, population growth, etc. In most states, there are also elected county sheriffs and county attorneys, and a few states have elected chief county executives. In most states, the county functions as an administrative subdivision of the state. The county's responsibility is to carry out programs, such as highway maintenance or welfare services, that are established by the state. Some analysts believe that the county will increase in importance in upcoming years because of the prominence of issues, such as waste disposal, that cannot be addressed adequately at the municipal level but require a regional response.
County government illustrates the variation that exists in local governmental structures.
An elected mayor has veto power over an elected council and has substantial authority over the budget and other policies. An elected mayor does not have veto power and is generally weak relative to the elected council. Unlike Europe, where private schools and national educational standards have historically been more important, the United States has emphasized public education and local control. This control is exercised through local school boards. In a few places, the school board is subordinate to the municipal government, but elsewhere it is an independent body.