ICMA 2018 Government Survey Infographic ICMA survey research
MUNICIPAL FORM OF
GOVERNMENT (2018- 19)
ICMA Form of Government Data and Definitions
According to the 2018 U.S. Census population estimates, there are 10,969 local governments with at least
2,500 residents.As of September 2019, this is how ICMA classifies their forms of government:
Council-Manager Form of Government: Elected council
Form of Government Number Percent or board and chief elected official are responsible for
Council-Manager 4,386 40.0% making policy with advice of the chief appointed official
(e.g.,administrator/manager).A professional administrator
Mayor-Council 4,166 38.0% appointed by the board or council has full responsibility for
Commission 1,302 11.9% the day-to-day operations of the government.
Commission Form of Government: Members of a board
Town Meeting 1,056 9.6% of elected commissioners serve as heads of specific
Representative departments while also collectively sitting as the legislative
Town Meeting 59 0.5% body of the government.
TOTAL 10,969 100.0% Town Meeting Form of Government: Qualified voters
convene and act as a legislative body that makes basic
Data are based on extensive research and verification conducted by policy,votes on the budget,and chooses a board.These
ICMA staff.Sources consulted include the ICMA Form of Government elected officials may carry out the policies established by
Survey,state association directories,historical data published in
The Municipal Year Book,and state and local statutes. town meeting or may delegate the day-to-day management
of the municipality to an appointed manager/administrator.
Representative Town Meeting Form of Government:
Municipal Form of Government Definitions*: Similar to town meeting except that voters select residents
Mayor-Council Form of Government: Elected council to represent them at the town meeting.All residents may
or board serves as the legislative body.The chief attend and participate in debate, but only the selected
elected official (e.g., mayor) is the head of government, representatives may vote.
with significant administrative authority,and generally *Note:ICMA classiftes townships according to the dOnition that most closely
elected separately from the council. matches how the government functions,which may differ from the statutory form.
2018 Municipal Form of Government Survey
Chief Elected Officials Chief Elected Offical Structure by Form of Government
Mayors are the most common chief elected official • Mayor,member • Mayor,independent • Council President
across all forms of government. In council-manager of council of council only
governments,the mayor is most often a member of the
council with largely equal powers. In mayor-council 66.7%
governments,the mayor is more likely to operate Council-Manager 16.8%
independent of the council with additional authority.
- 16.5%
a • 38.6%
Mayor-Council 50.2%
■ 11.3%
Compensation of Elected Officials Elected Official Median Annual Compensation by
Form of Government
85.9%of municipalities pay their elected officials
through salary, per diem,or other methods. Full-time Form of Chief Elected Council
and part-time elected positions have a wide disparity in Government Status Official Member
compensation levels. Form of government also influences Full-time $69,322 *
how elected officials are compensated for their service. Mayor-Council
Part-time $7,200 $3,600
Full-time $6,876 *
Council-Manager
iiiIiI1..1I1\ii
Part-time $5,400 $3,500
Full-time $60,500 *
Other
Part-time $5,000 $3,000
*Insufficient data
Election of Council Members Gender Composition of Municipal Councils
Political Affiliation The percentage of council seats filled by women has
The majority of municipal general elections are nonpartisan steadily increased since 1985,though as of 2018 women
with no political affiliation listed for council candidates. still occupy 1 seat to nearly every 3 held by men.
This is especially true in cities and for council-manager
governments.Townships are a notable exception,where Share of U.S. Municipal Council Positions Filled by
partisan elections are the norm. Women, Men
t Women t Men
Does the political party affiliation of council candidates 100%
appear on the ballot in a local general election? 81.0%
•Yes • No 84.1%"-"."-'0-274°—.22:1:-..,.
75%
78.7% 76.7% 72.8%
52.4% 5or
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69.9% 85. 0 77.7% 66.2%1
•.1%
47.6% 25% pry 27.2%
0
30.1% 14.9% 22.3% 33.8/ 15.7%
Mil
All local Cities Other Council- Mayor- 0%
governments municipalities Manager Council 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Use of Wards/Districts Percent of Municipalities with Council Wards/Districts
32.0% of municipalities elect some or all of their by Population
council members by ward/district rather than at Council-Manager •All local governments
large,with council-manager governments doing so 100%
slightly less frequently. Larger municipalities are
more likely to use wards to select council members. 75%
50%
25%
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To learn more, visit icma.org/research or contact surveyresearch@icma.org.
To download the full summary of the 2018 Municipal Form of Government Survey,
visit icma.org/2018-municipal-fog-survey.