Montgomery County is governed by a board of three county commissioners. They are the executive branch of the county. The commissioners are elected from separate commissioner districts by vote of the county as a whole. The Board of Commissioners constitutes the legislative body of the county for ordinance purposes. The board is responsible for making decisions about county buildings, lands, and property; purchasing and authorizing payments; signing contracts; supervising and directing County departments; and performing may other governing functions. The commissioners do not create the budget; the council creates the budget.