Board Of Commissioners

The mission of the Elk County Commissioners and the employees of the County of Elk is to serve the people who reside in Elk County in an equitable, fair and uniform manner; and to honor the rights and privileges of all; to promote sound and effective administrative policies and procedures; to promote the general welfare in any way we are able, while remaining fiscally responsible and accountable.

The duties of the commissioners are many and varied. They are chief administrators of the county and have representation from the two major political parties. Their administrative powers and duties encompass registrations and elections; assessment of person and property; appointment of county personnel; fiscal management and borrowing or lending funds for capital projects. The County Commissioners are also members of the Salary, Retirement, and Prison Boards.

Facts regarding County Government:

The chief governing body of the County of Elk are the 3 Commissioners. The Commissioners term of office is a 4 year term. Their responsibilities are to act as managers and administrators of the fiscal affairs of the County. The Board of Commissioners oversee several departments – Planning Department, Children & Youth Services, IT Department, Tax Claim and Tax Assessment, Elections, Veterans, Fiscal Department and the Prison. The Commissioners are in charge of the overall management of the county budget with the Prison being the highest annual operating expense.

Because Pennsylvania is a Commonwealth, the Commissioners do not have authority over the local municipalities. Under certain limited circumstances the commissioners can enact ordinances that affect a local municipality only in the absence of local ordinance. For example, the current county-wide subdivision ordinance does affect 4 municipalities since they lack their own local subdivision ordinance. However, if they choose to enact their own local ordinance to govern subdivision, then the local ordinance immediately supersedes the county’s.