Many counties have an emergency management agency responsible for the creation and implementation of plans to respond and recover from emergencies such as storms, floods, explosions or other didasters. They also plan for what to do if hazardous materials are spilled or released into the environment. Most counties also provide 911 emergency dispatch service to everyone in the county, making sure the police, ambulance or fire companies get to where they are needed. A large part of the funding for these programs comes from grants from the state and federal government. Each year counties help thousands of families in need of assistance.
Counties also oversee all elections, the basis of our democracy.
They keep a registry of voters, make sure election equipment is in good working order and ensure that polling places are accessible to everyone who wants to vote. To fund all these important programs, counties rely on taxes based on the value of real estate in the community. Real estate includes the buildings and land of our homes and businesses. Your local city, borough or township, and your school district also rely on the real estate tax information. Counties are a very important part of our community.