NYS County Government

New York State’s 57 counties outside the City of New York have generally adopted one of three forms of county organization:

• Charter counties, with an elected executive or appointed administrative official,
• Counties with an appointed manager or administrator organized under county law, and
• Those operating under the administrative direction of an elected legislative body. 

Of these types, the break down across New York counties is as follows:

• County Charters—23 counties: 18 currently with county executives elected in countywide general elections and five with appointed administrators or managers. 
• Appointed Manager/Administrator—22 counties have administrators and 10 have managers.
• Legislative Body—8 counties provide oversight and administration through their board chair and/or committees that have jurisdiction over specific departments.

Learn more:

• County Government in New York State - a report on the historical development of counties and the state statutes in New York that have influenced the establishment of local government in general, and county government in particular.