More than 73 percent of cities, towns, and counties throughout the United States with populations of 2,500 or more have established the position of professional local government manager. These individuals

• Are charged with carrying out the policies established by elected officials and with delivering public services efficiently, effectively, and equitably. The elected officials, in turn, have more time to concentrate on creating a vision for the community’s future.
• Bring to the table technical knowledge, experience, academic training, management expertise, a community-wide perspective toward policies and programs, cost-effective service delivery techniques, and a dedication to public service.
• Translate policy and visionary ideas into real results by developing sound approaches to community challenges.
• Maintain political neutrality and put the overall welfare of the community first.
• Align the local government's administrative systems with the values, mission, and policy goals defined by the community and elected officials.

Appointed professional local government managers are involved in thousands of individual decisions, large and small, that define our communities and affect our quality of life.

How Elected Officials and Managers Work Together

The power and authority to set policy rests with elected officials, such as a mayor or board chairperson and members of a community's council, commission, or board. The mayor or governing body, in turn, appoints a nonpartisan, nonpolitical professional manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city, town, or county.

Like a sports team coach, elected officials establish a vision for their communities and "call the plays" that need to be implemented. And like a sports team quarterback, a professional city, town, or county manager--in collaboration with the teams that they lead--uses his/her strengths in leadership, management, and ethics to go out on the field and make the vision of the elected officials a reality.

Responsiveness to residents is enhanced by centralizing administrative accountability in a single, appointed individual. Professional local government managers or administrators generally do not have guaranteed terms of office or tenure, and they are evaluated based on their responsiveness to the elected legislative body and community and their ability to provide efficient and effective services. If the professional manager or administrator is not responsive to elected officials, she or he may be terminated at any time. In that sense, the manager's or administrator’s responsiveness is tested daily.

Professional Local Government Management Makes a Difference

Professionally-Managed Communities are Ranked Among America's Best Places to Live

Since 2008, the majority of communities recognized with the National Civic League's coveted All-America City Award are run by professional local government managers.

Communities That Have Professional Local Government Managers Are More Efficient

A February 2011 study by IBM Global Business Services found that municipalities that operate under the council-manager form of government are nearly 10 percent more efficient than those that operate under the mayor-council form.

Professional Local Government Managers Who Are Members of ICMA Adhere to a Stringently Enforced Code of Ethics

ICMA members are committed to standards of honesty and integrity that go beyond those required by law. Professional local government managers or administrators who are members of ICMA agree to abide by its Code of Ethics, which specifies 12 principles of personal and professional conduct, including dedication to the cause of good government.  ICMA members believe in the effectiveness of representative democracy and the value of government services provided equitably to all community residents. The ICMA Code is enforceable by a confidential peer review process.

Professional local government managers are hired and directed by the elected city, town, or county council or other governing body to oversee the daily operations of a community or entity. These appointed managers are nonpartisan and nonpolitical. They may have different titles—city manager, town administrator, county executive, to name a few—but they all oversee the day-to-day business of local governments in an ethical, efficient, and transparent manner.

Much like executives who direct private-sector corporations, professional local government managers provide leadership, vision, and a focus on results that is needed to create better communities by

• Managing financial and human resources.
• Overseeing the delivery of essential community services.
• Planning strategically for community development.
• Using performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Committing to the highest level of ethical standards.

While their responsibilities may vary from community to community, professional city, town, and county managers are typically responsible for

• Working with elected officials (mayors and city, town, and county councils) to develop sound approaches to community challenges by bringing together resources that produce results that matter.
• Helping the governing body develop a long-term vision for the community that provides a framework for policy development and goal-setting.
• Preparing a comprehensive annual budget and capital improvement program and managing local government staff, budgets, programs, and projects.
• Overseeing the delivery of local government services, which may include public works; police, fire, and public safety; planning and economic development; parks and recreation; libraries; youth services; resource recovery and recycling; sanitation; and utilities.
• Developing performance measurement systems for local government services.
• Applying for and administering federal, state, and private foundation grant funding.
• Recruiting, hiring, and supervising the local government workforce, including key department heads. 
• Preparing council or board meeting agenda materials.
• Bringing a community-wide perspective that considers past and future challenges to policy discussions.
• Encouraging inclusion and building consensus among diverse interests (including those of the elected officials, the business community, and citizens) by focusing on the needs of the entire community rather than the interests of only a few individuals.
• Promoting equity and fairness by ensuring that services are fairly distributed and that administrative decisions (such as hiring and contracting) are based on merit rather than favoritism.
• Developing and sustaining organizational excellence and promoting innovation. 
• Ensuring that laws and policies are enforced fairly throughout the community and that the government runs ethically and transparently.

Professional city, town, and county managers establish a commitment to excellence within the local government organization that sets the tone for all employees. These individuals expect staff at all levels, from department directors to line employees, to meet high standards in service delivery, accountability, and ethics. Together, they look for more effective and efficient ways to serve the members of their community.

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