New York State County Law allows each county to designate a board of supervisors to supervise the county. However, if the county chooses, it may establish an elected county legislative body to take on the functions, powers, obligations and duties of the board of supervisors. In Erie County this elected legislative body is the Erie County Legislature. The Erie County Legislature serves all of the residents of Erie County. In order to equally represent all residents, the county is broken up into legislative districts that are determined by Census population numbers. Erie County currently consists of 15 legislative districts. In every district, one elected Erie County Legislator represents approximately 62,000 citizens. These legislators “each operate a staffed district office which offers residents a variety of services.”