County Officials

There are 120 counties in Kentucky, and each one has its own people, customs, industry, and history.  To address the needs of each of these unique pockets, county leaders are elected to address their specific needs and issues. Because of these differences, the responsibilities of county officials vary from place to place depending on population size and needs.

Scroll down to learn more about the officials typically found in county governments.

The county judge/executive is the chief executive officer of the county.  The term "judge" may be misleading because in this case, the elected official does not actually hear criminal cases.  Instead, the judge works with a county legislative body called the fiscal court to make decisions for the county. 

Typically, the fiscal court consists of the county's elected magistrates or commissioners.  They make decisions about county laws and services, administrative personnel, and the use of county funds.  The judge/executive advises this court and assists in the execution of its decisions. 

The county clerk is the supreme record-keeper for the county.  He or she tracks, files, and maintains important information on land transactions, voter registration, vehicles, marriage licenses, and more.

The county attorney is responsible for counseling and representing the county fiscal court in all legal matters.  In addition, the county attorney often represents victims of domestic violence and prosecutes people who refuse to pay property taxes or child support.

The sheriff has the important responsibility of maintaining the county's main law enforcement office.  Often he or she must hire and train new employees, maintain a fair and efficient office, and make decisions that ensure the safety and protection of the community as a whole.

The county jailer is elected to ensure that all jailed individuals are safely and efficiently housed. 

The county coroner and his or her staff must visit the scene of deaths to declare a person deceased.  Sometimes he or she must also investigate deaths that may have been of unnatural causes.

The property valuation administrator (PVA) assesses the value of property for purposes of taxation.

Though not all property is separated by fences it is still important to keep an accurate record of land ownership.  For that reason the county surveyor determines land boundaries and records them for future reference and to resolve land disputes. 

Typically, magistrates and commissioners are elected to represent areas of a county on the county's fiscal court.  They are often tasked with both representing the interests of people in their area while assisting in decisions that affect the county as a whole. 

The responsibilities of constables also tend to vary significantly from county to county.  They are usually associated with law enforcement of the county.  In some counties they have full police authority and in other counties they have only partial authority.