08/10/2026
The Arkansas Municipal League provides many educational resources designed to help citizens and officials alike understand the mechanics of municipal government.
https://www.armunileague.org/resources-education/publications/
Administrative Duties of the Mayor
Mayors of cities and towns with the mayor-council form of government are required to prepare and submit a budget to the city council for approval on or before December 1 of each year (See Chapter V).
All mayors of cities of the first class must submit to the city council within the first 90 days of each year a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the city. This is commonly referred to as the State of the City Report (A.C.A. § 14-58-302).
The mayor shall also "keep the governing body advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the city and make such recommendations as to him or her may be desirable:' (A.C.A. § 14-58-302)
The mayor oversees the day-to-day activities of the city and supervises department heads.
The Mayor's Duties of Appointment, Nomination and Removal
Mayors in cities or towns with the mayor-council form of government have the power to appoint and remove all department heads, including police and fire chiefs, unless the city or town council votes to override the mayor's action by a two-thirds majority of all council members. In cities with a civil service commission, the council may, by ordinance, delegate the authority to appoint and remove the police or fire chief to the city's civil service commission. The mayor may not appoint or remove department heads that are not under the control of the governing body of the city (A.C.A. § 14-42-110).
Mayors may also appoint or nominate:
A building official (A.C.A. § 14-56-202(b)).
A board of library trustees (A.C.A. § 13-2-502 [with city council approval]).
A health officer, when the position has been created by ordinance (A.C.A. § 14-262-103).
An airport commission (with council approval) (A.C.A. § 14-359-105).
A parks and recreation commission (A.C.A. § 14-269-202 [with council confirmation] and 14-269-302 [with council confirmation]).
A marshal in some cities of the second class (A.C.A. § 14-44-111).
An at-large member of an Advertising and Promotion Commission (with council approval) (A.C.A. § 26-75-605).
Duties of the Council Members
City council members are officers and officials of their city. The city council:
Enacts ordinances and bylaws concerning municipal affairs that are consistent with state law in order to promote the health, safety and welfare of the public (A.C.A. §§ 14-55-102; 14-43-602).
Has the management and control of the city finances and all real and personal property belonging to the city (A.C.A. § 14-43-502).
Adopts a budget by ordinance or resolution for operation of the city or town by February 1 of each year (A.C.A. § 14-58-202).
Sets the procedures by ordinance for making purchases that do not exceed the sum of $35,000 in cities of the first class, except as provided in A.C.A. § 14-58-104. Councils in cities of the second class and in towns may set procedures for making purchases, except as provided in section 14-58-104 (A.C.A. § 14-58-303(b)).
Sets the time and place for regular city council meetings (A.C.A. § 14-43-501). All meetings should be open to the public in accord with the state Freedom of information Act (A.C.A. § 25-19-106).
May override the mayor's appointment and removal of department heads by a two-thirds vote of the total membership (A.C.A. § 14-42-110).
May override the mayor's veto by a two-thirds vote (A.C.A. §§ 14-43-504; 14-44-107; 14-45-105).
Calls for a special election in cities of the first class to fill the vacancy of the unexpired mayor's term of office if the unexpired term is for more than one (1) year (A.C.A. § 14-43-40l(b)).
May fill, by appointment in cities of the first class, the vacancy to the office of mayor if the expired term is less than one (1) year (A.C.A. § 14-43-40l(b)(l)). In a city of the second class or an incorpo-rated town the city council shall fill a vacancy in the mayor's office for the unexpired term by either a majority vote of the council members or a special election (A.C.A. §§ 14-44-106; 14-45-103).
Sets the salaries of the mayor, council members and other municipal officials. Salaries of officials may be increased, but not decreased, during the term of office, except that the official receiving the salary may request a decrease (A.C.A. § 14-42-113).
Either establishes a city fire department or, by ordinance, enters into a contract or interlocal agreement for city fire protection with an existing fire department certified by the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board. The council may promulgate rules to govern a city fire department (A.C.A. § 14-53-101).
A governing body of a city shall establish a police department (A.C.A. § 14-52-101). In lieu of establishing a city police department under A.C.A. § 14-52-101 a governing body of a city may enter into a contract of interlocal agreement for law enforcement services with an existing law enforcement agency (A.C.A. § 14-52-101).
Directs by ordinance the number of subordinate officers to be appointed (A.C.A. § 14-52-201).
Sets the rates for city utilities and establishes fees for city services.
Enacts ordinances establishing sales taxes and referring same to the voters.
Takes actions leading to annexation of territory to the city.
Establishes and certifies to the county clerk the amount of property taxes to be levied within the city or town prior to the regular meeting of the quorum court in November or December of each year (A.C.A. §§ 26-73-202; 14-14-904).
May establish (and abolish) various commissions to manage and operate such services as parks, utilities, an airport, advertising and promotion, planning and others, as provided by state law.
