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 Assessor
The Assessor is charged by State law with the responsibility
of assessing all real and personal property in the County,
except for public utility property, which is assessed by the
State Board of Equalization. The Assessor appraises all property
subject to general property taxation according to its value
pursuant to Article XIII-A of the California Constitution.
An assessment roll is produced each year listing the property,
owner, location, description, and assessed value of the property.
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Auditor-Controller
The Auditor-Controller is the chief accounting and disbursing
officer of the County. The Auditor maintains the accounts
of County government, School Districts, and most Special Districts.
Taxation functions of this department include tabulating the
assessed valuation of property, compiling tax rates of local
government, preparing the tax roll, and controlling accounts
for current and delinquent taxes. Additionally, this department
apportions taxes to various local governments, ledgers, accounts,
and County departments; allows or rejects claims against the
County treasury; issues  checks; maintains property inventory
records; gives financial advice to County departments; compiles
County and Special District budgets; and estimates revenue
relative to the County budget. More
Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors is the legislative and executive governing
body of Madera County government. One Supervisor is elected from
each of the five supervisorial districts of the County.
Within the limits prescribed by State law, the Board enacts
ordinances and rules, determines County policy, supervises the
activities of County departments, adopts an annual budget, and
fixes salaries.
The Board meets regularly the first four Tuesdays of each
month and occasionally on Mondays in the Board Chambers of the
County Government Center in Madera. The public is invited to
attend and participate. Any member of the public wishing to bring
a matter to the attention of the Board may contact the Clerk
of the Board so the item can be placed on the agenda.More
Constables -- Madera, Borden, Chowchilla, and Sierra Judicial
Districts
The Constables are responsible for performing civil duties
within their respective judicial districts and serving as bailiffs
when court is in session. Additionally, they are assigned the
duty of serving civil processings.
District Attorney
The District Attorney is responsible for criminal prosecution
of all violations of State and County law and also acts as legal
counsel to the Grand Jury. The Department conducts investigations
to supplement the work of other law enforcement agencies.
Under the auspices of the District Attorney's Office, the
Family Support Office locates and obtains financial support from
parents of children receiving public assistance who fail to provide
said support. Additionally, this office is charged with the responsibility
of initiating steps to enforce court orders regarding child support
for civil cases and the establishment of paternity. The program
reduces Welfare grants to AFDC cases by requiring absent parents
to contribute to the support of their children.
County Clerk-Recorder
The County Clerk-Recorder is elected to office every four years, and is responsible for three distinct divisions: County Clerk, County Recorder, and Elections.
County Clerk division is charged with issuing public and confidential marriage licenses, performing civil marriage ceremonies, filing fictitious business name statements, accepting passport applications for the U.S. Department of State, and other miscellaneous ministerial duties.
County Recorder is charged with recording, indexing and permanently archiving all records of land transactions in Madera County. Records of all births, deaths and marriage events are on record with the Recorder division.
The Elections division of the department maintains records of registered voters in the county, and conducts local, state and federal elections in the county.
 Sheriff-Coroner
The Sheriff is responsible for enforcement of State and County
laws, the prevention of crime, and apprehension of criminals
in the unincorporated areas of the County as well as the County-wide
enforcement of court orders and processing of civil writs. The
Sheriff provides service for the entire County, except for the
cities of Madera and Chowchilla, which have their own police
departments. The Sheriff's Department also provides criminal
investigation, identification, records, and criminal warrant
services for the entire County. Seasonal patrol services are
also provided at Bass Lake.
As Coroner, the Sheriff investigates and determines the cause
of death in the absence of a physician, or as the result of
an accident or the criminal action or negligence of another
person. More
 Consolidated
Courts -- Madera, Borden, Chowchilla, and Sierra
The judges of the Courts are elected officials. The jurisdiction
of the Municipal Court extends to civil cases involving no more
than $15,000, small claims cases not exceeding $1,500, misdemeanor
criminal and traffic cases, and felony preliminary examinations.
The Superior Court handles all matters appealed from the Municipal
Courts and administrative agencies, small claims appeals, and
is the Court of Original Jurisdiction in civil cases involving
more than $15,000, all probate matters, felony cases, and Juvenile
Court matters.
Court Administration: The Court Executive Officer qualifies
jurors for all the Courts through questionnaires and interviews,
draws and summons jurors, and maintains records of juror service.
Additionally, this position acts as secretary to the presiding
Superior Court judge, provides stenographic services to the Grand
Jury, administers the Superior Court calendar, and obtains and
coordinates the appointments of outside judges from the State
Judicial Council to hear cases in which the regular judge is
disqualified or for double settings. The Court Executive Officer
oversees the processing of all legal filings for the Courts,
collects all fees, handles fictitious business name statements,
powers of attorney for sureties, completes acknowledgements and
affidavits. The office makes monthly reports regarding court
activity and processes all documents issuing from the Court.
Treasurer Tax Collector
The Tax Collector-Treasurer receives, safeguards, distributes,
and invests County, School District, and Special District funds;
collects taxes; opens and inventories safe deposit boxes; sells
tax-defaulted land; and issues County business licenses. More
NEXT Appointed Departments
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The
Madera Method
