School districts, library boards, authorities and commissions operate under their own statutes, and general municipal law does not automatically apply.
Source of authority. The enabling statute defines powers, and these entities have only the authority granted, expressly or by necessary implication.
Governance. Composition, terms, appointment or election, officers, meetings and quorum, all statutory. Bylaws may fill gaps and may not contradict the statute.
Open meetings and public records apply, generally without modification.
Contracting and procurement under the entity’s own statute, which may differ from the municipality’s — including different bidding thresholds and different approval requirements.
Employment. Frequently subject to specific statutes governing tenure, certification, and dismissal procedures with prescribed hearings.
Budget and finance. Independent taxing authority in some cases, dependence on a parent unit in others, with different audit and reporting obligations.
Liability and immunity under the general governmental immunity framework, with the entity’s function determining whether an exception applies.
Relationship with the municipality. Independent legal existence in most cases, which means the municipality is not automatically liable for the entity’s obligations and cannot direct its decisions.