HB 279 Summary

• Requires a petition certified by the judge of probate and an election before a Class 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 municipality can change from mayor-council to council-manager form of government.

• Allows municipalities adopting council-manager government to choose whether the council will have five members (one mayor plus four council members) or seven members (one mayor plus six council members).

• Requires the ballot to clearly indicate the composition of the mayor and council under the council-manager form if voters approve the change.

• Changes the effective date for implementation from the first Monday in October to the first Monday in November following the election approving the government change.

• Applies to Class 6 cities with nine-member councils, which may have the change take place on the first Monday in November in any even-numbered year rather than during a general municipal election year.