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Strong Mayor-Council
Structure
- Mayor elected at large; council elected by districts; possible partisan election (mayor separate from council)
- Council designated as legislative branch
- Mayor designated as chief executive of administrative branch
- Mayor has veto power; council override requires 2/3 or 3/4 majority; sometimes no override
Appointment Powers
- Department heads generally subject to council approval (i.e., simple majority vote)
- Department heads serve at mayor’s pleasure (i.e., mayor has firing power)
- Few or no elected officers; either mayor appoints with council consent, or mayor recommends and council appoints
- Mayor appoints all non-civil service department heads and officers
- Mayor has full appointment powers
Management Authority
- All administrative officials and employees are ultimately responsible to the mayor (mayor has administrative accountability)
- As chief executive, the mayor is fully responsible for the administrative and intergovernmental affairs of the municipality
- Council has oversight function, which is used most during budget review
- Mayor is responsible for the general supervision of the administrative departments (i.e., mayor has management authority)
Budget Authority & Process
- Preliminary budget preparation - Separate departments prepare and submit to the mayor
- Final budget preparation - Mayor submits proposed budget to council
- Budget review - Council’s finance budget committee and full council
- Budget approval and adoption - Council
- Mayor has veto power over council changes; council override requires 2/3 or 3/4 majority
- Budget implementation - Mayor
Ordinance Powers
- Council is the legislative body that establishes broad policy and local laws as ordinances and resolutions
- Mayor is responsible for the enforcement of ordinances
- Mayor may veto ordinances; council override requires 2/3 or 3/4 majority