The Town operates under the council-manager form of government. The Town Council, which has policy-making and legislative authority, consists of a mayor and a six-member council. The Town Council is responsible for, among other things, passing ordinances, resolutions, and adopting the Town’s annual budget. They also appoint committees and hire the Town Manager and Town Attorney. The Council is elected on a nonpartisan “at large” basis. Council members are elected to four-year staggered terms with three Council members elected every two years. The qualified electors of the Town directly elect the Mayor for a two-year term. The Town Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies, ordinances, and resolutions of the Council, and for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Town. 

The municipal government is broken down into departments that are headed by directors/managers. These directors and managers are hired by and report to the Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, or Deputy Town Managers. 

For more information on the council-manager form of government, read the Arizona League of Cities and Towns publication: Council-Manager Government in Arizona.