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Smith County Departments
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Smith County Government:
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County government plays an important part in the history of County
residents as we provide services throughout their lives by recording births,
adoptions, marriages, divorces, providing health care to indigents, certifying
deaths and probating wills of the deceased. Texans depend upon counties to record
land records, register voters, hold elections and maintain rural roads. The counties
in Texas also maintain the important historical documentation of the state’s past.
Smith County personnel carry out responsibilities in the justice system of the various
courts, law enforcement, probation and housing of inmates awaiting trial or punishment,
public safety, health, welfare, veteran and agricultural services as well as various
administrative functions.
Approximately 700 full and part-time employees work for Smith County
in thirty-eight separate departments performing these functions and documenting
the collective memory that our civilization requires.
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Appointed Offices:
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State law also prescribes some offices whose Directors are appointed by Elected
Officials and it allows the Commissioners Court to create some departments and appoint
personnel to run them. The Auditor, who is appointed by District Judges, is an example
of a state appointed officer.
The Records Service Director is an example of a position created and filled by the
Commissioners Court
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Smith County Departments:
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The mixture of independent and group authority, elected and appointed officials,
and exclusive and shared power require intra-county cooperation and coordination.
To function effectively, Smith County activities require the various offices and
the people in them to work as a team. Select the department links to the left for
additional information concerning any of the Smith County Department.
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