Georgetown Citizens Academy: Management Services

Rich Bucho, a member of our CCSCT Community Awareness Committee, attended the opening Academy

class addressing Management Services. The primary goal of the Academy is to provide an inside look at

the operations of the City of Georgetown. The primary speaker was Paul Brandenburg, City Manager.

The following is an overview:

Community Profile

-Population-2008 estimate- 50,383

-Unemployment rate is 3.8%

-#1 place to retire nationally according to

Retirement Places Rated

Type of Government

Home Rule City

-Home rule is the right of citizens at the grassroots level to manage their 

ownaffairs with minimum interference from the state.           

Current City Structure

Elected Body

-Seven member council is elected by districts.

-Mayor is elected at large.

Appointed Staff-Hired by the Council

-City Manager

-500 Fulltime Employees

-$220 Million Dollar Budget

Duties of the City Manager's Office

-Ensure the delivery of quality services to citizens.

-Coordinate and implement City Council goals and objectives with all City

Departments.

-Address public requests for needs and services.

How are Services Defined?

-Necessities

Water, wastewater, electric, garbage collection

-Recreation

Parks, Library, Recreation Center, Pools

-Protection

Police, Fire, Inspections

City Services are funded by taxes (based on the value of property owned),

fees and fines (building permits, tickets, late library fees), sales tax and utilities.

In turn, those taxes pay for streets, roads, trash pickup, sidewalks, police protection,

fire protection, library, parks and recreation and the animal shelter.

As other members of the Citizens Council attend Academy classes, they will

provide us with an overview for publication. The next installment will cover Finance and Administration.

You may explore www.georgetown.org for more information about the city including the bond issues on the November 4, 2008 ballot.

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