The Administrative Department is responsible for a number of County functions. The department's staff is headed by the County Administrative Officer, who is appointed by, and serves as the chief assistant to the elected Board of Supervisors. The department's primary mission is to be the lead County department responsible for implementing County policy, as established by the Board of Supervisors. It is the department's goal to faithfully implement the policy and direction of the Board of Supervisors, consistent with good ethics and conservative fiscal management. One of the department's greatest responsibilities and its greatest commitment of staff time is spent on the development and management of an annual, realistic, balanced County Budget. The department has a wide variety of responsibilities besides the budget, some of which are included in the menu to the right.