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Functions of County Offices

Assessor

The office was established under the Howell Code of 1864. The Sheriff originally had the duties of Assessor. The primary function of this official was to assess the taxable property of the county and to complete an assessment roll which contained descriptions of real estate. The Assessor also collected taxes on personal property unsecured by real estate and served as the county agent for the Motor Vehicle Division of the State Highway Department for issuing automobile licenses and collecting automobile taxes. Under the Arizona Constitution, the Assessor is an elected official, serving a term of two years.

Attorney, County

This office started as District Attorney for the District Courts. It became County Attorney under the Civil Code of 1901. Under the Arizona Constitution, it became an elected office. The County Attorney is the legal representative for all county agencies.

Coroner

The Howell Code of 1864 established the office of the Coroner. Two Coroners were elected for each county to serve two-year terms. If the office of Coroner was vacant, the Justice of the Peace served as Coroner. The primary duty of the Coroner was to investigate unnatural deaths and to convene a jury to inquire into suspicious deaths. The Coroner also served as Sheriff if that office was vacant. After 1912, offices of County Coroners were established and their duties outlined in the 1913 Civil Code. After 1913, Coroners served as the Justice of the Peace for their precincts. In 1975, the office of Coroner was replaced by the County Medical Examiner.

Highway Department

From 1912 to 1972, when it was made an appointed office, the County Engineer was elected by the voters. This official is responsible for the maintenance of existing roads and development of future roads.

Justice of the Peace

The Howell Code of 1864 established the office of Justice of the Peace. Two Justices were elected in each election precinct of the Territory. If a precinct had more than 800 persons, it received three Justices. The term of office was one year.
The State Constitution of 1912 established Justices of the Peace as municipal rather than county officers. In the 1913 Civil Code, Coroners became the Justices of the Peace for their precincts, combining the two offices.

Public Health, Superintendent of

Under a 1903 territorial law, each county was ordered to create a County Board of Health to oversee the prevention and treatment of contagious diseases, condemnation of impure foods and enforcement of sanitary regulations. County boards were also given powers to house and give medical care to the indigent sick (which led to the creation of county hospitals in several counties between 1904 and statehood). The Board of Health was composed of the chairman of the Board of Supervisors who served as president, the County Attorney who served as vice-president, and the County Superintendent of Public Health who served as secretary.
County Superintendents of Public Health were required to keep records of all cases of contagious and infectious diseases including who reported, location of infected person(s), measures taken, termination of case and other facts found. They were also required to record births and deaths in their counties. Health officers from each city were required to forward birth and death information monthly to County Superintendents.

Recorder

The office of County Recorder was organized under the Howell Code of 1864. The Recorder was appointed by the Territorial Governor, but became an elected official under the Arizona Constitution. The primary duty of the Recorder was to record all deeds (including water and mining claims), mortgages of real estate, releases of mortgages, powers of attorney, leases of over one year, wills admitted to probate and certificates of marriage. The Recorder also served as ex-officio clerk of the probate and county courts. The recording and issuing of marriage certificates was transferred from the County Recorder to the Clerk of District Probate courts in 1901.

Schools, Superintendent of

In 1879, the Probate Judge of each county was charged with the duties of ex-officio County Superintendent of Public Schools. The primary duties of the office were to apportion public school monies in the school fund of the County Treasurer and to receive from each teacher quarterly reports of average daily attendance. Three school trustees were elected for each district to be entrusted with the care and custody of all school property. A school marshal was appointed to take an enumeration of all children within each district before the first of June.

The Territorial Superintendent of Public Instruction appointed three people in each county to serve as a Board of Examiners. The County Superintendent served as one member. The Board examined applicants and granted teacher certificates. The Board of Education had the power to remove examiners and fill vacancies.

The 1912 State Code authorized the State Board of Education to grant certifications, rather than the County Boards of Examiners.

Sheriff

The Howell Code of 1864 established the office of Sheriff. A Sheriff was elected for a two-year term, and if a county did not have a Sheriff, the Board of Supervisors appointed one of the county's Coroners to fill the post. The Sheriff had charge of the county jails and prisoners; served or executed all processes, writs, precepts and orders issued by a lawful authority; and served as Assessor and collector of taxes for the county. In his role as County Tax Collector, the Sheriff collected all taxes due the county; gave public notice of the time and place of sale of property to be sold for delinquent taxes; sold goods and chattels of persons who neglected or refused to pay taxes; collected poll taxes; and received and recorded the fees for the issuance of all business taxes. The office of Sheriff was re-established by the 1912 Constitution.

Superior Court

Three District Courts were established under the Howell Code of 1864, and this number was increased to five by the time Arizona became a state in 1912. The Judges were appointed by the President of the United States. These also served as the Justices of the Territorial Supreme Court. Probate and Justice Courts were created separately from District Courts. The Arizona Constitution established a system of Superior Courts.
District courts had jurisdiction over all cases involving less than $100 and appellate jurisdiction to hear all actions from Justice of the Peace courts. Under the Howell Code, Probate Courts were separate from District Courts (although combined under the Superior Courts).

Supervisors, Board of

The Howell Code of 1864 established a County Board of Commissioners composed of the Probate Judge, Sheriff and Recorder, with the Probate Judge serving as chairman and the Recorder serving as secretary. The name was changed to the Board of Supervisors in 1865. The Board was then composed of three qualified electors. The County Recorder served as Clerk of the Board.

The primary duty of the Board was and is to oversee the administrative business of the county. Other duties were, and are, to incorporate villages; to act as a Board of Canvassers and declare election returns; to act as a Board of Equalization to determine any objections to the assessment of property and increase or decease assessments; and to construct all county buildings as necessary. Boards of Supervisors were re-established under the 1912 Constitution.

Treasurer

The office of Treasurer was established under the Howell Code of 1864. The Treasurer was appointed by the Board of Supervisors or elected for a term of two years. The Treasurer kept a fair and accurate account of all moneys received, issued licenses or permits, and gave to the Board of Supervisors statements of any license monies received and submitted a copy to the Territorial Treasurer. Under the Arizona Constitution, the County Treasurer became an elected official.

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