Board of Commissioners
Catawba County Board of Commissioners
The five-member Board of Commissioners represents the residents of Catawba County. Commissioners are elected on an at-large basis to staggered four year terms in even-numbered years.
Duties of a County Commissioner
The Board of Commissioners has many duties and authorities, including the following:
- Determining the County’s strategic vision
- Adopting a balanced County budget by June 30 annually
- Establishing the County’s property tax rate
- Setting County policy by adopting resolutions and local ordinances*
- Appointing the County Manager as chief administrator
- Appointing the County Clerk, County Attorney and Tax Administrator
- Appointing individuals to serve on various advisory boards and commissions
- Providing funding for the construction and maintenance of public school facilities
- Determining the level of local current expense funding for public schools on an annual basis
- Providing for the safety and well-being of all residents
- Determining land use and zoning outside municipal boundaries
- Conducting long-range planning for County needs (Capital Investment Plan)
- Calling for bond referenda
- Entering into contracts on behalf of the County
- Serving as liaisons to local, state and federal boards and commissions
*Because the Sheriff and Register of Deeds are also elected officials, they have independent authority to adopt policies for their departments.
Human Services: In NC, counties administer social services and public health directly within county departments. These services are state supervised and county administered.
Schools: Counties in NC are statutorily required to build and maintain school facilities, which are owned by independently elected school boards. Counties also contribute a percentage of their budgets to fund school classroom expenses (also known as local current expense or per pupil funding).
Other Services: In NC, counties have increasingly taken on other services for the health and well-being of residents, especially in unincorporated areas. This includes services such as the provision of water and sewer, building inspections, and planning and zoning.
Roads: The State of North Carolina is responsible for building, repairing and maintaining secondary roads. County government is not responsible for the building, repair or maintenance of roads.
Additional Information:
Local Government in North Carolina
What Do North Carolina Cities and Counties Do?
Reference: “Basics of North Carolina County Government,” North Carolina Center for County Research, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners

C. Randall Isenhower, Chair
(828) 465-2143risenhower@catawbacountync.gov1537 Little Hill RoadNewton NC, 28658- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Public Education Steering Committee
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners General Government Steeering Committee
- Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors
- Chair, Trivium Corporate Center Board of Directors

Barbara G. Beatty, Vice Chair
(828) 320-0370bgbeatty@CATAWBACOUNTYNC.GOV2990 Balls Creek RoadNewton NC, 28658- Finance and Personnel Subcommittee
- Subdivision Review Board
- Catawba Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees
- Trivium Corporate Center Board of Directors
- Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners General Government Steering Committee
- North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board

Kitty W. Barnes
(828) 478-2240kbarnes@catawbacountync.govPO Box 598Terrell NC, 28682-0598- Catawba County Policy and Public Works Subcommittee
- Partners Behavioral Health Management Board
- Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board Delegate; Executive Board
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Board of Directors
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Tax and Finance Steering Committee
- Chair, National Association of Counties Environment, Energy and Land Use Steering Committee
- Vice Chair, Resilient Counties Advisory Board, National Association of Counties
- Member, FEMA Mitigation Framework Group

Sherry E. Butler
(828) 338-9312sherryb@catawbacountync.gov1215 Knolls DriveNewton NC, 28658- Policy and Public Works Subcommittee
- Catawba County Social Services Board
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Public Education Steering Committee
- CVCC Board of Trustees
- K-64 Education Board
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
- President, Newton-Conover Rotary Club

Austin Allran
(828) 327-2632aallran@catawbacountync.gov515 6th Street NWHickory NC, 28601- Finance and Personnel Subcommittee
- Catawba County Public Health Board
- National Association of Local Boards of Health
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee