As of 2002, Oregon had 36 counties, 240 municipal governments, 236 public school districts, and 927 special districts. Towns and cities enjoy home rule, the right to choose their own form of government and enact legislation on matters of local concern. In 1958, home rule was extended to counties. Most of Oregon's larger cities have council-manager forms of government while smaller communities are governed by a city council and mayor. At the county level, typical elected officials are commissioners, judge, assessor, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer.
The state constitution gives voters strong control over local government revenue by requiring voter approval of property tax levies.