Sole commissioner

The U.S. State of New Mexico State Land Office is headed by a Commission with only one member, the Commissioner of Public Lands, elected by statewide ballot.

In local government in the United States, sole commissioner government is a county commission with only one seat. The sole commissioner typically holds all legislative and executive powers in the county. Even though with one commissioner there is no voiced debate among the commission, sole commissioners typically hold public meetings to allow public input on decisions.

Though the structure was historically more widespread, now Georgia is the only state in the United States to have counties governed by a sole commissioner. Debates over the establishment or removal of a sole commissioner government generally hinge on efficiency versus representation and debate.

The advantage to single commissioner is lower cost. With an average Georgia salary for a county commissioner being $168,195 per year, or $14,016 per month, The reduction from the 3 man commission board to a sole commissioner is a savings of $336390 in salary plus another estimated million in extra staffing.

Most counties with sole commissioners are small and rural. However, Bartow County, Georgia (part of exurban metro Atlanta)* and, until recently, Walker County, Georgia (part of metro Chattanooga) are notable exceptions.

• This needs to be amended. Bartow County IS small and rural. It is NOT part of the Atlanta Metro area counties.

Counties with sole commissioners

Currently in Georgia

• Bartow
• Bleckley
• Chattooga
• Murray
• Pulaski
• Towns
• Union

Previously in Georgia

• Dade
• Pickens
• Walker (until 2021)
• Webster
• Whitfield