The West Virginia State Constitution gives broad powers to the legislature to authorize the county commissions to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, not of a judicial nature, as the legislature might elect to do. Many of the county commission duties and authorities are set out in Chapter 7 and elsewhere in the West Virginia Code. The following is a partial list of duties and powers: (NOTE: This material taken from the County Commissioner’s Handbook)

• Lay and disburse county levies (7-1-3)
• Preparation and adoption of a budget for all county offices except judicial (7-7-7)
• Supervise the general management of the fiscal affairs and business of the county (7-1-5)
• Approve purchase orders and payment vouchers for all elected county offices except judicial (7-1-5)
• Sit as Board of Equalization and Review to hear appeals on property assessments (11-3-24)
• Jurisdiction in all matters of probate (7-1-3)
• In cases of contest, judge the election, qualification and returns of their own members and of all county and district officers, subject to appeal (7-1-3)
• Custody of all deeds & papers presented for record through county clerks (7-1-3)
• Supervision & Maintenance of County Courthouses (7-1-5)
• Agriculture Extension (19-8-1)
• Authority to treat streams to prevent floods (7-1-3u)
• Cable Franchising Agent (Chapter 24D)
• Authority to hire litter control officers (7-1-3ff)
• Responsibility for naming and renaming roads, ways, streets, avenues, drives and the like, to assure uniform, nonduplicative conversion of all rural routes to city-type addressing (7-1-3)
• Construction of waterworks, sewers and sewage disposal plants within their jurisdiction (7-1-3a)
• Authority to lease, rent or permit the use of county property (7-1-3k)
• Appoint members of certain county boards, authorities and public service districts
• Appointment of Coroner/Medical Examiner (61-12-14)
• Adopt ordinances and orders in areas of jurisdiction as prescribed by law
• Authority to adopt, by order State Building Code (7-1-3n)
• Authority to require, by order, permits for mobile homes or house trailers (7-1-3p)
• Authorizing voter approved county service fees for infrastructure projects (7-20-11 & 7-20-12)
• Dog Leash Ordinance authority (19-20-6)
• Authority to govern business of massage (71-3z)
• Ordinance for regulating dilapidated building & structures (7-1-3ff)
• Ordinance restricting the location of business offering exotic entertainment (7-1-3jj)
• Ordinance authority to provide for the elimination of hazards to public health and safety (7-1-3kk)
• Ordinance authority to restrict certain activities in relation to obscene matter (7-1-4)
• Ordinance authority for counties with a county-wide comprehensive plan to further regulate or prohibit ATV operation on any road in the county (17F-1)
• Ordinance authority for county planning & zoning (Chapter 8A)
• Ordinance authority for County Addressing and Mapping
• Ordinance authority for Enhanced 911 (7-1-3cc)
• Floodplain ordinance authority (7-1-3v)
• Authority to establish a Hotel/Motel (Tax) Ordinance (7-18-1)
• Authority to establish a Fire Fee Ordinance

The following services and functions are under County Commission authority (and/or city where applicable):

• Ambulance Services
• Animal Shelters Armories
• Airports
• Emergency Telephone Systems
• Fire Protection
• Historic Preservation
• Hospitals
• Jails
• Law Enforcement
• Libraries
• National Guard
• Building and Housing codes
• Recreation
• Emergency Services
• Industrial and Community Development
• Planning and Zoning
• Water
• Sewage collection and disposal
• Solid Waste collection and disposal
• Watershed improvement
• Housing Authority
• Floodplains and mudslide area management
• Public health
• Parks
• Traffic and parking
• County Building Commissions
• Community infrastructure authority
• Beautification initiatives
• Senior Citizens programs
• Community action
• Community improvements
• Air pollution control
• Civil Defense
• Soil conservation Districts
• Public Service Districts
• Inspection for food and drug adulteration
• Stream treatment to prevent floods

The County Commission provides funding and/or appoints Board Members (but does not manage) for the following:

• 26th Judicial Corrections Board (funding only)
• Buckhannon-Upshur Board of Health
• Dalton Cutright
• Roy Goff
• Dale Lee Hawkins
• Betty Bailey
• Amy L. Rohr-Queen
• Buckhannon-Upshur Airport Authority
• William Wellings
• Richard Clemens
• Phil Loftis
• Scott Wilson
• Robert Baker
• Glenn Davis
• Charles Anderegg
• Buckhannon-Upshur Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
• Richard Edwards
• Tappan Squires
• Doug Bush
• Alan Suder
• Bill Roby
• Joe Fealey
• Rick Malcolm
• EMS (funding only)
• James W. Curry Advisory Board
• Craig Presar
• Mark Riggs
• William A. Parker
• Michael Quinn
• Jerry Reynolds
• Deborah Brockleman

• Public Service Districts
Adrian PSD
• Sharon Bowen
• Donald Killingsworth
• James Darrell Loudin

Elkins Road PSD
• Carey Wagner
• Clint Walton
• Sonny Matthews

Hodgesville PSD
• Robert Wright
• Donnie Kincaid
• Roger Ward

Tennerton PSD
• John McGrew
• John Jenkins
• Rex Reeder

• Region VII Planning & Development Council
• William A. “Willie” Parker
• Connie Tenney
• Donnie R. Tenney
• French Armstrong
• Dr. Pamela Balch
• A.G. Trusler

• Stockert Youth Center (funding only)
• County Humane Office/Dog Pound
• Upshur County Building Commission
• R. Dennis Xander
• Joe Malcolm
• A.G. Trusler
• Richard Ralston II
• Terry D. Reed
• Upshur County Civil Service Board
• Terry D. Reed
• Richard Kitzmiller
• Bruce Bennett
• Upshur County Development Authority
• Glenn Hawkins
• Dennis Klingensmith
• Dave Thomas
• Sue Johnson-Phillippe
• Creed G. Pletcher
• Stephen Lampien, Jr.
• Stephen Foster
• Don Nestor
• B. VanNostrand
• Lee Sneed
• Dr. Pamela Balch
• Dennis Xander
• Mark Harper
• Sharon McNemer
• Connie Tenney
• Kenneth Davidson
• Terry D. Reed
• William Wellings
• Terry Ware
• Elain Abel
• Sam Nolte
• Emiel Butcher
• Upshur County Enhanced Emergency Telephone Board
• Creed G. Pletcher
• Rodney Rolenson
• Steven Long
• Betty Hinkle
• James Farry
• Joey Baxa
• Upshur County Family Resource Network (funding only)
• Upshur County Fire Board
• Creed G. Pletcher
• Joe Carrico
• Wyatt Long
• George Smith
• Joe Malcolm
• Frank K. Hodges
• Ed Beer
• Upshur County Public Library Board
• Dennis Xander
• Neil Brake
• Lee Dixon
• Martha Feola
• Mary Ann Crites
• Upshur County Safe Sites & Structures Ordinance Enforcement Board
• Greg Harris
• Josh Marsh
• Gary Bonnett
• Dr. Rigoberto Ramirez
• Mary Anne Newman
• Virgil Miller
• Upshur County Solid Waste Authority
• Burl Smith
• Joyce L. Harris-Thacker
• Dalton Cutright
• Jacqueline McDaniels
• Robert Wines
• Upshur County Youth Camp
• Debbie Hull
• Thanna Wentz
• Debbie Miller
• Craig Presar
• Glen Hawkins