Stafford City Government
From its incorporation in 1956 until May 2004, Stafford operated under a Mayor-Council member form of government as a General Law (Type A) City – a strong mayoral system with no City Manager.
In an election held May 15, 2004, the citizens of Stafford voted by better than a 2-to-1 margin to adopt the proposed Home Rule Charter. This Charter was authorized by a 15-member commission: It provides for a Mayor-Council form of government with the City Council composed of a Mayor and six City Council members.
Eight department directors report directly to the Mayor. The City is prudently run and has an AA bond rating. The City prides itself on its outstanding record of fiscal responsibility over the past four decades – - one of the main reasons the City was able to eliminate its property tax in 1995.
The Mayor and six Council members are elected at-large with staggered two-year terms and collectively form the City Council. A Mayor Pro Tem is elected annually from among the City Council. All department heads are appointed and serve at the will of Council.
City Council conducts regularly scheduled meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 2610 S. Main Street. Typically, engineering and plat items are considered on the third Wednesday of the month.
All meetings are open to the public and televised “Live” on S-METV via Comcast Channel 16. Agendas for each meeting are posted at City Hall and on the website by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to a Wednesday meeting.
The Stafford Planning and Zoning Commission meets at 7:30 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the second Wednesday of the month.
The Stafford Economic Development Corporation meets at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Financial statements for both the City of Stafford and the Stafford Economic Development Corporation are posted on the website.