![[photo, County Government Center, One West Market St., Snow Hill, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/wo/images/buildings/1198-1-08951c.jpg)
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Administrative Director is responsible for the daily operations of County government, and serves as Clerk to the Board (County Code, County Government Article, sec. 4-101).
Under the Administrative Director are the Budget Office and the Public Affairs Office. The Administrative Director also is aided by the Ethics Board and the Local [Video Lottery] Development Council.
County Government Center, One West Market St., Snow Hill, Maryland, June 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Annually, the Commission submits a report to the State Ethics Commission, showing County compliance with State law governing the public ethics of local officials with respect to conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, and lobbying (Code General Provisions Article, secs. 5-804 through 5-812).
The Ethics Board is composed of seven members, who are appointed to four-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (County Code, County Government Article, secs. 5-101 through 5-109).
![[photo, Ocean Downs Casino, Berlin, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/wo/images/buildings/1198-1-08930c.jpg)
Ocean Downs Casino, Berlin, Maryland, June 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Council consists of fifteen members (Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1A-31).
BUDGET OFFICE
During the transition to Code Home Rule government, the Finance Office was created and merged with the Office of County Treasurer in 1976. Since then, the County Treasurer has been appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, and has served simultaneously as County Finance Officer, heading the Finance Office (County Code, Taxation & Revenue Article, secs. 1-101 through 2-202).
Managing all tax matters, the Finance Office collects all County fees, including property transfers, landfill operations, and water and sewer payments. The Office disperses employee payrolls, and oversees accounts payable, and debt and expenditure accounts. For County residents, the Office also provides for motor vehicle registration renewal.
The Department of Information Technology develops and procures information and communication systems for County government. Maintaining the County’s digital network and infrastructure, the Department ensures data storage, and telephone and internet connections for County agencies. The Department also maintains County records and seeks to ensure County access to digital databases, such as the Maryland Interagency Law Enforcement System (MILES), and the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) operated by the Department of State Police and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
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For the Board of County Commissioners, the Budget Office collects and reviews operating budgets for County agencies. Using these budgets, the Office estimates future revenue and expenses, and creates the annual budget due April 30 (County Code, County Government Article, sec. 4-201).
FINANCE OFFICE
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. For Worcester County that State oversight ended in 1892, when the Board of County Commissioners began to appoint annually a tax collector for each of the County's three tax districts. These collectors were overseen by the Board Clerk, who also served as Board Treasurer (Chapter 543, Acts of 1890). Duties of the Board Treasurer were assumed by the County Treasurer in 1915 (Chapter 182, Acts of 1914). Elected to a four-year term, the County Treasurer's position continued until 1976.
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
The Human Resources Department is responsible for the County personnel system, issuing notice of job openings, and reviewing applications for employment. Providing training to employees, the Office regulates employee benefit programs, and counseling for County employees. The Department also administers injury reports and claims, insurance and insurance claims, worker’s compensation claims, and retiree benefits (County Code, County Government Article, sec. 4-301).
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
In 1992, the Department of Information Technology originated as Information Technology under the County Treasurer within the Finance Office. In July 2010, Information Technology transferred to the Emergency Services Department. The unit reformed as a department under Administration in October 2018.
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