Weak Mayor-Council

Structure

  • Mayor elected at large; council elected by districts; partisan election
    • Mayor has no veto power
    • Mayor serves as president / chairman and presides over council
    • Mayor votes as member of council (in some cases only to break a tie)

Appointment Powers

  • Council (including mayor) appoints all officers and department heads
  • Mayor has little or no appointment powers (in some cases may make recommendations)
  • Some officers may be elected at large (i.e., treasurer, tax collector)

Management Authority

  • Entire council and its committees may split administrative accountability
  • Entire council has management authority (i.e., administrative oversight, appointments, budget)
  • Mayor has no independent management authority or supervisory authority over the municipality’s administrative affairs

Budget Authority & Process

  1. Preliminary budget preparation - Separate departments prepare and submit to the council committees
  2. Final budget preparation - Council committees
  3. Budget review - Council and committees
  4. Budget approval and adoption - Council
  5. Budget implementation - Council

Ordinance Powers

  • Council essentially makes all decisions as a full body
  • Council is the legislative body that establishes broad policy and local laws as ordinances and resolutions
  • Council or committees are responsible for enforcement of ordinances