Structure of a County Health Department

State law provides each county the authority to establish a county health department. In establishing a county health department, base funding must be provided from local tax sources. This normally results from a vote of the local taxpayers. The same law also defines the county health department as a function of county government. The county health department is considered an official office of county government just as the county clerk and the county treasurer. As a function of county government the county health department is responsible to the board of county commissioners and the county board of health of each county.