(1) A local district, within the meaning of section 20 (2) of article X of the state constitution, shall not reduce or end its subsidy pursuant to section 20 (9) of said article to any program if:

(a) The program is one of the inherent powers, duties, or functions of an officer whose office is created as a county office by the state constitution, including but not limited to the county clerk and recorder, the county sheriff, the county coroner, the county treasurer, the county surveyor, the county assessor, and the county attorney; or

(b) The program is required by the state constitution to be administered by the local district, including but not limited to duties related to the maintenance of the state court system and the equalization of property tax assessments.

(2) Nothing in the general assembly's enactment of a requirement that a local district contribute toward the funding of a program operated by an agency or officer which is not under the jurisdiction of that local district, including but not limited to the requirement that counties pay a portion of the costs of maintaining the office of the district attorney, shall imply that the general assembly has delegated the program to the local district for administration within the meaning of section 20 (9) of article X of the state constitution.

(3) A board of county commissioners shall not cease exercising or performing its inherent legislative, executive, or quasi-judicial powers, duties, or functions in the guise of reducing or ending its subsidy to a program pursuant to the provisions of section 20 (9) of article X of the state constitution.

(4) As used in this section:

(a) "Administration" means the executive management or superintendence of public affairs, as distinguished from policy-making.

(b) "Inherent" means in the essential character of or belonging by nature or settled habit to.