City Government

The City of Columbus was organized on March 3, 1834, and is a home rule municipal corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio. An elected Mayor and City Council govern it. As the capitol for the State of Ohio, the city is located in the central part of the state, primarily within the boundaries of Franklin County and, to a limited extent, Fairfield, Licking, and Delaware Counties. The U.S. Census Bureau, as a result of the 1990 Census, ranked the city as the 15th largest in the nation. The city is the most populous city in Ohio and the largest in land area.

The City operates under and is governed by its Charter, which was first adopted by the voters in 1914, and which has been and may be amended by city voters from time to time. Under the Ohio Constitution, the City may exercise all powers of local self-government and may adopt regulations to the extent not in conflict with applicable laws.

The City Charter provides for a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor is the chief executive officer and is elected to a four-year term. The seven member City Council is the legislative body. Members are elected at-large to four-year terms at two-year intervals. Other elected officials include the Auditor, City Attorney, Clerk of Courts, and Municipal Court Judges. The Auditor is the fiscal officer and chief accounting officer. The Auditor maintains the City's accounting records and arranges for the independent audit of the City's accounts annually. The City Attorney is the City's legal advisor, prosecutor and solicitor. The Clerk of Courts maintains records of the activities of the Municipal Court and collects funds due to the Court. The fourteen Municipal Court Judges have countywide jurisdiction over all cases up to $10,000; criminal, traffic, jury and non-jury trails; and hearings involving misdemeanor cases or disputes involving environmental issues

In addition to the elected officials and their administrative offices, a number of department heads    within the City are appointed by the Mayor or by   supporting commissions.

The Mayor's Cabinet consists of the Directors of the Departments of Technology, Trade and Development, Finance, Public Safety, Public Service and Public Utilities. Each Director is responsible for the administration of the department and its respective divisions. Other members of the Mayor's Cabinet that are appointed by independent commissions include:

Services provided by city departments include but are not limited to police and fire protection; solid waste management and collection; street construction, maintenance and repair; traffic control; provision of water, sewer and electrical services; operation of neighborhood health care centers; recreational opportunities and community events; neighborhood housing and business development; equal employment opportunity programs; city employee recruitment, hiring  and training; budget, Development and financial planning; building inspection and code enforcement; equal business opportunity programs; city purchasing; and city facility construction and renovation.