08 City Mgr-Waters Consulting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

A very active spirit of volunteerism by citizens supports these and other programs. Abilenians are justifiably proud of the low crime rare, the congenialiry of the people and the lack of traffic congestion - all that help to contribute to the family atmosphere of the community. THE GOVERNMENT Abilene City Hall The City of Abilene was incorporated in 1883 and the first home-nIle charter was approved in 1911. The City first adopted the Council/Manager form of government in 1947. The current home-rule charter was adopted in 1962, with the most recent amendments approved in 1997, Under this charter, the City is governed by a City Council composed of the Mayor and six Council Members. All members of the Council are elected at large to a three-year term, with residency requirements. Under the City Charter, the City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney and Municipal Court Judge are appointed by the Mayor, with approval of the City Council. The Judge is appointed for a two-year term, subject to removal by the Council for cause. The other Charter officials are appointed for an indefmite period and may be removed by a majority of the Council. Abilene is a full service municipal organization providing a broad range of services to the community. The City Manager is responsible for leading approximately 1200 employees and managing a Fiscal 2002 operating budget of $109 million. The major revenue sources for the General Fund of Ùle City are property taxes, sales taxes, franchise/ access fees and solid waste fees. The City has well-established financial management policies that were adopted in 1984 and are reconfirmed annually. The City's credit rating is "Aa3" from Moody's and "AN' by S & P. Abilene was the first city in the state to establish the 4A sales tax for economic development. Industries ranging from cookie manufacturers and prison facilities, to regional jet maintenance facilities have been assisted through the program, resulting in the creation of over 6,000 jobs. Through collaboration with private groups and philanthropic foundations, the City has successfully revitalized its downtown. The economic and downtown development programs are known for their innovative approaches and sustained success. The general consensus is that the City of Abilene provides quality services and is staffed with dedicated people. The Council will look to the new City Manager to build on that positive reputation and lead the organization to the next level of performance while looking aggressively for ways for the organization to be more effective and efficient. COUNCIL PRIORITIES Economic Development Puture Water Sources Infrastructure Workforce Recmitment/Retention Abilene Community Excellence (ACE) Task Force Issues (for more information about this report, see the City's website www.abilenetx.com. Long-range land use planning Neighborhood stabilization Intergovernmental/Community Relations