Government
The adoption of the City Charter in 1949 established the Council-Manager form of government that the City of Killeen still operates under today. The mayor is the city's chief elected officer, but has no administrative power. The mayor, however, presides over the city's seven-member City Council, which sets all policy and serves as the city's official representative at various functions. The operations of the city are overseen by a city manager.
The city elects its council members at large, meaning that every registered voter within the city limits may vote for all seven council members. Four council members, however, represent specific geographical areas or wards of the city, while the other three represent the city as a whole.
Terms for the mayor and all council members are two years, with a three-consecutive-term limitation for each office. The city holds nonpartisan elections each May with the terms staggered so about half the council is elected each year. The mayor and the at-large council members are elected in even-numbered years, while the four ward council members are elected in odd-numbered years.
Killeen offers many services of a metropolitan city. With nearly 700 regular full-time employees, the city is one of the largest employers in the Killeen area. In addition to police and fire forces, which were expanded this year, the city owns and operates its own emergency medical services, owns and operates its own water, sewer, and garbage utilities, and operates a commercial airport, an 18-hole golf course, a public library system with two locations, and numerous parks and recreation facilities, including two public swimming pools.
The powers of city government range from enforcing building standards to regulating noise on city streets. The complete code of ordinances is available at City Hall at 101 North College Street and is constantly updated as the City Council adds, amends, and repeals ordinances.
For more information on the services offered by the City of Killeen, you may call City Hall at 254-501-7600 or visit the city website at www.ci.killeen.tx.us.
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