Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator serves a four-year term (County Code, sec. 2-203).
FINANCE
HUMAN RESOURCES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information Technology develops, implements, and maintains digital and communication networks, and coordinates software and hardware purchases for County agencies. The County’s website also is maintained by Information Technology, which staffs a help desk to address computer and electronic issues with County systems.
In 1896, tax collection in Somerset County became the duty of the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners (Chapter 318, Acts of 1896). The Clerk was appointed by the Board to serve a two-year term. From 1913, the County Treasurer was elected by voters to a four-year term (Chapter 10, Acts of 1910). In 1922, elections were transitioned to even-numbered years, with the Treasurer being elected thereafter in 1926 (Maryland Constitution, Article 17; Chapter 227, Acts of 1922).
The Treasurer conducted and certified assessments, collected taxes, and conducted tax sales. The Treasurer deposited and distributed collected taxes, and recorded uncollected bills (County Code, secs. 7-101 through 7-303).
Although the office of Treasurer was abolished effective October 1, 2013, provision was made for the incumbent to serve out his term until December 2, 2014 (Chapter 194, Acts of 2013).
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Fiscal matters, including the appropriation and borrowing of County funds, are the responsibility of the Finance Department (County Code, secs., 2-301 through 2-312).
Human Resources administers the hiring and training of County employees, and coordinates employee and retiree benefits and the County pension system (County Code, sec. 2-404).
Under the County Administrator, Information Technology was founded in September 2006.
DEFUNCT OFFICES
COUNTY TREASURER
Origins of the office of County Treasurer and its oversight of County finances trace to the 18th century. From 1776 to 1843, the financial supervision of Maryland counties was overseen by two State Treasurers. One served the Eastern Shore, and the other, the counties west of the Chesapeake. In 1843, the two positions merged, and a single State Treasurer began to oversee each county's finances.
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