In a council-manager government, who is responsible for preparing the budget?

This collection of articles, statistics, and other information is assembled to assist community residents, elected officials, and business leaders in gaining a better understanding of the value that professional management brings to our cities, towns, and counties.

ICMA's origins lie in the council-manager form of local government, which combines the strong political leadership of elected officials (in the form of a council, board, or other governing body) with the strong professional experience of an appointed local government manager or administrator. Under this form, power is concentrated in the elected council, which hires a professional administrator to implement its policies. These highly trained, experienced individuals serve at the pleasure of the elected governing body and have responsibility for preparing the budget, directing day-to-day operations, hiring and firing personnel, and serving as the council's chief policy advisor.

Although ICMA actively promotes the council-manager form as the preferred structure, the organization also supports professional management in all forms of local government.

Feel free to use these materials as part of your council-manager form adoption and retention efforts. For more information on professional local government management or the council-manager form, contact ICMA's Director of Advocacy Jason Grant.

BACKGROUND

VALUE OF THE PROFESSION

EFFICIENCY/FISCAL/QUALITY-OF-LIFE SUPERIORITY

RESEARCH, DATA, AND STATISTICS

Budget preparation and administration is a shared responsibility between the City Council, City Manager, Finance Department, department manager, division manager, and supervisor. Each plays an important role in the fiscal management system and the quality of and satisfaction derived from the fiscal management system is a direct result of the efforts of the several participants. Lack of attention, failure to follow procedures and/or poor follow through at any level can undermine the best fiscal management system. The City Council, City Manager, the Finance department, and department/division managers all play an important role in the creation of the budget:

City Council
In a very real sense, budget preparation and administration begins and ends with the City Council. The City Council has the following responsibilities:

Establish City goals and major performance objectives.
Approve guidelines for preparing the annual operating budget.
Establish through adoption of an annual budget what services and the level of services to be provided and how they will be financed.
Establish rules for the conduct of the City's fiscal operations.
Monitor progress toward achievement of objectives.
Require independent audit of fiscal records and transactions.

The City Manager The City Manager is responsible to the City Council for the day-to-day operation and administration of the City government. In terms of fiscal management, the City Manager has the following responsibilities:

Develop policy guidelines for City Council review and adoption.
Prepare and submit an annual operating budget and a five-year Capital Improvement Budget premised upon Council guidelines and goals and major performance objectives.
Ensure the adopted budget is properly administered.
Supervise the performance of all contracts for work to be done by the City.
Authorize and direct the purchase of all supplies and materials used by the City.
Keep Council fully advised on financial conditions of the City.
Make financial reports available to City Council by the 10th of the month following the close of the preceding month.
Establish rules for conduct of fiscal operations for which he is responsible.

Finance Department
The Finance Department becomes an extension of the City Manager's Office for purposes of performing the delegated responsibilities. The responsibilities of the Finance Department include the following:

Administer the approved budget on a day-to-day basis to see that funds are being expended for the purposes approved and that all claims are supported by proper documentation.
Supervise sale of bond issues.
Administer centralized payroll system.
Administer decentralized purchase order system.
Assist the City Manager’s Office in preparing the budget.

Department Managers, Division Managers, and Supervisors The critical role in the fiscal management system is performed by department managers and their division managers and supervisors. The fiscal management system will be only as good as they make it. Their role includes:

Responsibility for the efficient and effective operation of the activities and tasks under their direction. Line supervisors are expected to control costs and achieve results.
Responsibility for preparation of budget requests, which emphasize objectives and service levels as well as traditional line item explanations and justifications for various funding levels and development of measures for evaluating progress toward objectives. What is the level of accomplishment, which can be expected from various funding levels, and how do we measure it? It is absolutely essential in our approach to budget preparation that accomplishments, objectives, and estimated costs be established by those in the organization who know the most about it and can be held accountable. Those are the department managers and their division managers and supervisors.
Responsibility for recommending and explaining needs and opportunities for service changes; reductions as well as expansions.
Responsibility for providing the planned and approved service level within budget limitations.
Responsibility for day-to-day department and activity budget administration.

Q&A Who

In a council-manager government, who is responsible for preparing the budget?

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