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What responsibilities does a city manager have in a council-manager government?
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local government
A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official addressing the Watonga City Council to discuss aid for flood victims, Watonga, Oklahoma, 2007.
In a council-manager system, the city manager serves as the principal executive and administrative officer of the municipality. Appointed by the elected city council, the manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of municipal affairs under the council's general supervision.12
The specific responsibilities of a city manager include:
- Budgeting: Preparing the municipal budget for the council's consideration.1
- Personnel Management: Appointing and dismissing city staff and personnel.1
- Departmental Oversight: Directing the operations and work of various municipal departments.13
- Policy Advising: Attending council meetings to present recommendations on municipal business and participating in policy discussions.1
Unlike the mayor-council form of government, where the mayor may hold significant executive powers like veto authority or department head appointments, the city manager in a council-manager system centralizes administrative authority. In this structure, the council acts collectively to set policy, while the manager ensures those policies are implemented efficiently.1452