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.
Answer: 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 of a municipal council 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; and annexing property.
The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government offers in-person and online courses. To register for the on-demand courses, go to www.masc.sc (keyword: MEO) and log in with your user identification number and password. The on-demand courses can be accessed 24/7 from any computer, tablet or mobile device that has internet connection and may be taken in any order.