an official list of candidates on which voters can indicate their votes without going to an official polling place

a group of residents appointed to provide oversight and advice to a department or to consider a project or issue (also known as an advisory committee or commission)

a group of residents appointed to provide oversight and advice to a department or to consider a project or issue (also known as an advisory board)

a person living in a country where he or she is not a citizen

to set aside money for a specific purpose

the legal process of extending municipal boundaries and adding territory to a city or town

authorizing expenditure of government funds to a particular purpose or use

the value assigned to property by government to establish its worth for tax purposes

evaluate, measure, or judge something

(also known as special purpose local government) unit of local government created by the General Assembly to deliver a specific service, usually with territorial boundaries larger than a single jurisdiction and often encompassing several jurisdictions

the list of candidates on which people cast their votes

a group of people responsible for the governance of an enterprise

quasi-judicial body that hears requests for exceptions to zoning ordinance

Bi-partisan board tasked with overseeing elections, voter registration, and maintaining voting records

a contract to repay borrowed money with interest at a specific time in the future

a plan for raising and spending money

a group of people legally organized as a corporation to encourage economic development

acquiring, expanding, or substantively improving major tangible items like land, buildings, or expensive equipment

a group of business people formed to promote business interests in the community

the document defining how a city or town is to be governed and giving it legal authority to act as a local government

an official summons to appear before a court to answer a charge of violating a government regulation

a person who has full rights in a country because he or she was born there or has been given those rights by the country

civic education program facilitated by local government(s) for the purpose of informing and building positive relationships with residents and encouraging civic engagement

learning how and working to make a positive difference in the civic life of your community through political and nonpolitical efforts

responsibilities or obligations association with being a citizen, such as voting and obeying laws

fine or other financial penalty imposed by courts as restitution for being found guilty of a violation of law

a state official elected in each N.C. county in a partisan election to a four-year term; responsible for all clerical and record-keeping functions of the superior court and district court in addition to various other responsibilities

the eastern region of North Carolina, extending approximately 150 miles inland from the coast; the western border of the regional is usually defined as the western boundaries of Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Johnston, Harnett, Hoke, and Scotland counties (41 counties in all)

a grouping of individuals and families connected through some shared characteristic; people who live in the same government jurisdiction

decayed material that is used as fertilizer

as provided under a 2012 law, an agency created by counties in North Carolina that is a combination of public health and social services agencies

a legally binding agreement made between two or more people or organizations

a group of persons formed by law to act as a single body

an arrangement in some local governments in which the elected legislature hires a professional executive to direct government activities

a restriction on the use of property, land, money, and so forth agreed upon by two parties

an act that is forbidden by law; an offense against all of the people of the state, not just the victim of the act

payments of principal and interest on a loan

legal document regarding the ownership of property

the process by which the salt is taken out of water

a person or business that builds houses or prepares land for building

a person who gives emergency workers information so that those workers can respond to emergencies

activities to create new jobs and additional sales and other business

a committee created to advise and assist local governments in economic development efforts; sometimes set up as a nonprofit organization while other times they serve in an advisory capacity to government departments

money spent

the area outside city limits over which a city has authority for planning and regulating use of the land (often abbreviated as ETJ)

showing partiality; favoring someone over others

the division of authority between national and state governments

the 12-month period used by the government for record keeping, budgeting, taxing, and other aspects of financial management

a program to help people with financial need buy food; vouchers to be used like money for purchasing food; federal program, but administered by county departments of social services in North Carolina

money a government has not spent at the end of the fiscal year

a per gallon tax placed on purchases of gasoline

North Carolina’s state legislature, which consists of a House of Representatives of 120 members and a Senate of 50 members

a regularly held election for public offices

a loan that a government agrees to repay using tax money, even if the tax rate must be raised

(Geographic Information Systems) software that combines layers of geographic data for the purpose of managing, analyzing, and presenting it

money given by state or federal government to local governments to fund local projects

an area in which is located a large receptacle for trash, usually painted green, that often emits a foul odor if solid waste is not regularly collected

public area with grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational purposes, or simply to beautify the community, in otherwise urbanized areas.

water that collects underground

a group of residential properties organized into a neighborhood by a real estate developer and maintained as a private, nonprofit corporation

an advisory group of resident volunteers, appointed by a city or county governing board, whose mission is to promote human relations within a community; these efforts include promoting human rights, equal opportunities, mutual respect, and understanding within a given community

a person who comes to live in a country from another country

a material that pollutes

a report that a police officer writes describing a crime or other problem situation

the safe burning of wastes

to receive a state charter, officially recognizing the government of a municipality

property set aside for industrial uses such as manufacturing and distribution facilities

the rate of increase of commonly purchased goods, indicating declining purchasing power of currency over time

facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community, such as streets, water lines, and public buildings like schools and community centers

a way in which the citizens propose laws by gathering voter signatures on a petition; only a few cities and no counties in North Carolina have provisions for initiatives

a charge for borrowed money that the borrower agrees to pay the lender

a percentage of the amount borrowed that the borrower agrees to pay to the lender as a charge for use of the lender’s money

money given to local governments by state and federal governments to help meet specific needs

the right to use legal authority, or the territory over which a government can use its authority

a document created to guide future land use decisions in a community, including a long-term vision and goals and guidelines for future development and other public investments (also known as a comprehensive plan)

a site built into or on top of the ground in which trash is stored for permanent disposal and isolated from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, rain); also known as sanitary landfill

to impose a tax by law

a state law that applies to only those local governments specified in the law

a legal order by which one government requires actions by another government

a program which local governments must provide because of requirements from state or federal government

a program designed to pay for medical care for people in financial need; federal program, but administered by county departments of social services in North Carolina

hiring or promoting based on a person’s qualifications, ability, and performance

the western region of North Carolina, extending eastward from the Tennessee border to the eastern boundaries of Alleghany, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke, and Rutherford counties; includes 23 counties

material spread around plants that prevents the growth of weeds and protects the soil from drying out

a city, town, or village that has an organized government with authority to make laws, provide services, and collect and spend taxes and other public funds

commitment by local governments to assist each other in times of need

hiring or giving favorable treatment to someone based on kinship

not affiliated with a political party

a state law (G.S. 143-318) requiring most meetings of local governments to be held with advanced notice and open to the public

one who is against something

a program that a government decides to provide to meet the needs or requests of its residents

a directive from a local governing board instructing action by the government

a law, usually of a city or county

involving political parties

hiring or giving favorable treatment to an employee because he or she is a member of one’s political party

by or for each person

tangible property that is not part of land our buildings, such as cars, boats, and expensive business equipment

the people who work for a government, company, or other organization

a request for government action signed by a number of voters who support the same request

the central region of North Carolina including Surry, Yadkin, Alexander, Catawba, and Cleveland counties on the west to Warren, Franklin, Wake, Chatham, Lee, Moore, and Richmond counties on the east; includes 36 counties

an association of voters with broad common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office

tax people had to pay in order to be allowed to vote

an official place for voting

anything that harms the quality of air, water, or other materials it mixes with

the total number of people living in a designated area such as a city or county

a North Carolina state law that allocates part of the state’s gasoline tax to municipal governments to build and repair city streets

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

to take the place of or take precedence over

an election in which voters select candidates for a general election

the amount of money borrowed

government purchase of a service from a business instead of producing the service itself

a tax based on a portion of the assessed value of real (buildings and land) or personal (all other tangible) property

the total assessed value of all taxable property

a percentage of the assessed value of property that determines how much tax is due for that property

one who is in favor of something

a suggestion put forward for consideration or approval

a time period set aside in public meetings of government bodies where residents can speak to the governing body and contribute to the public record; legally required for local government governing boards in North Carolina

a meeting designed for government officials to receive public comment on a specific issue before decisions are made; in some cases, such as passing a budget, a public hearing is legally required

a state law (G.S. 132) declaring that most government records (emails, documents, maps, and so forth) belong to the people and must be freely available and accessible to the public

an organization (such as a city or county department or private provider) that builds, maintains, and operates infrastructure (and its associated system) for public services like gas, electricity, water, and sewage

controlled distribution of scarce resources

land and buildings, and improvements to either

a person who knows how well someone did on a previous job or about that person’s other qualifications for a job

a way for citizens to vote on state or local government decisions; an election in which citizens vote directly on a public policy question

an elected county office tasked with managing public records such as property records, birth and death certificates, and marriage licenses

a person who lives in a designated area such as a city or county

an adopted policy of a local governing board expressing its sentiments on a particular issue

the income that a government collects for public use

a specific type of government bond where payback of the debt comes from revenues of the project the borrowed money paid for

estimations of future revenue used for planning and budgeting future expenditures

of or relating to the countryside; area where fewer people live

tax levied on a product at the time of sale

a container in which wastes are broken down by bacteria

elected county official responsible for law enforcement, jails and courtroom security

the solid material separated from sewage

(also known as public authority) unit of local government created by the General Assembly to deliver a specific service, usually with territorial boundaries larger than a single jurisdiction and often encompassing several jurisdictions

efforts to reduce runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, yards, and other locations in order to protect or improve water quality; an important environmental service of many local governments that contributes to community well being

rules for dividing land for development

support financially

a payment which reduces the cost to the user

to ask a court to act against a person or organization to prevent or pay for damage by that person or organization

all waters on the surface of the Earth found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and so on

total amount of assets or income that can be taxed

federal government program of support for families in need but administered by counties in North Carolina; provides small payments to cover basic living expenses and assistance to help adults find and keep jobs

a charge imposed on a user based on how much solid waste they bring for disposal at a landfill

the sum of the assessed value of all the property a city or county can tax

the part of a county outside the cities and towns in that county

area where people live close together; most are incorporated as municipalities

a charge levied to use a public service

permission to do something different from what is allowed by current regulations

organizations—usually nonprofit—that promote or market specific destinations; usually funded primarily by local governments through tourism-related tax revenues (lodging and restaurant taxes)

people who donate their time and effort

a section of a jurisdiction for voting, representative, or administrative purposes

an area that drains water into a stream or lake

rules designating different areas of land for different uses