Public services

Scope note

Use for on-going essential services provided by government relating to the protection and maintenance of the lives and property of community members as a whole. For the actual enterprises that provide essential commodities such as water and power to the public, use "public utilities." For the government-sponsored provision of buildings and other facilities for public use and paid for by public funds, use "public works." For organized assistance provided by public or private agencies to individual community members, use "social services."