Newton County Chairman Kathy Morgan will help determine policies for counties around the state after being reappointed vice chairman of the General County Government Policy Committee, which is part of Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

The committee handles issues involving the structure of county government and intergovernmental relations between counties, constitutional officers (sheriff, tax commissioner), the courts and federal, state and city governments. It also weighs in on elections, ethics, home rule, service delivery, planning and zoning.

Particularly during the down economy, county leaders have been critical of unfunded mandates handed down by state and federal governments.

"It is important as chairman that I help our legislatures understand how their decisions on these issues affect our county at the local level," Morgan said in a press release.

Morgan took office January 2009 and will be up for re-election November 2012.