Dynamics in Rural Policy Development: The Uniqueness of County Government

A nalyses of modem county government recurrently stress three basic themes. First, counties are generally rural and are still managed primarily by elected officials who possess only marginal administrative experience.' Second, county governments depend heavily upon federal and state grants as a basic source of their revenues.2 Third, county governments are confronted with a growing number of complex service functions that are being thrust upon them.3 As administrative functionaries of state government, counties implement numerous federal and state programs which straddle the jurisdictional boundaries of other local governmental units. Their ability to fulfill these multiple policy tasks is constrained by two principal deficiencies: (1) counties are drastically restricted in their power by state statutes, and (2) the convoluted nature of their organization deters effective administration.4 Given the above characteristics, this study asks: Can we expect county governments to cope with today's problems of rapid system change without corresponding changes in the day-to-day operating procedures they adopt? What public administration and policy issues do county officials consider essential to their ability to manage the ever-increasing complexity of county government? This article examines the types of counties that are likely to employ contemporary administrative techniques in their struggle to assuage public problems. Furthermore, the analysis will touch upon the issue of whether the administrative development is significantly related to the policy of local government.