True or false:
The main policy-making power of local governments is the authority to adopt local ordinances and to set fines and penalties for the enforcement of those ordinances.
True
City and town councils use ordinances to adopt rules or policies that will have a significant effect for an extended period of time. There are 15 actions that require a local ordinance to be adopted to have the power of law:
- Adopting budgets and levying taxes
- Setting salaries
- Adopting council rules of procedure
- Conducting municipal elections;
- Amending or repealing any adopted ordinance
- Adopting a comprehensive plan
- Procurement/purchasing
- Adopting administrative codes
- Establishing municipal departments
- Granting, renewing or extending franchises
- Authorizing the borrowing of money
- Establishing fines or penalties
- Selling, leasing or contracting
- Adopting standard codes
- Annexing property
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