The Guide 8.24 - Flipbook - Page 36
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PUBLIC LIFE
Annapolis City Hall, 160 Duke of Gloucester St, in Annapolis. JEFFREY F. BILL/STAFF
CITY CONTACTS
A guide to Annapolis government
By Bridget Byrne
The Annapolis city government is led
by an elected council of aldermen and
alderwomen, each of whom serves four
years and represents one of the city’s
eight wards. An elected, full-time mayor
also serves for four years and represents
the city on the county, state and federal
levels. The mayor also votes with the
council.
Council members are paid about
$18,459 annually while the mayor is paid
$98,000. Their present terms run until
December 2025.
The city manager oversees the city
departments and is nominated by the
mayor and approved by the council.
In April, the mayor delivers operating and capital budget proposals to the
council for consideration. For several
weeks, the council, including the Finance
Committee and other committees,
reviews the budget in public meetings.
The full council then debates, offers
amendments to both budgets, and votes
on a final budget in June.
In addition to its own municipal
government, Annapolis is the seat of the
state and county governments.
Annapolis has its own police, fire,
transportation and public works departments. Anne Arundel County is in charge
of the public school system.
The city has its own City Code and
charter. Both can be viewed at library.
municode.com/md/annapolis/codes/
code_of_ordinances.
City residents pay property taxes to the
city and the county but receive a reduced
rate on their county taxes.
For more information about city
departments, programs and initiatives, go
to annapolis.gov.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Democratic Mayor Gavin Buckley won
a second term in 2021. Born in South
Africa and raised in Australia, Buckley
has owned several restaurants in the
Historic District and on West Street. He
can often be found aboard a boat and
enjoys showing off Annapolis waterways.
The council and mayor are elected
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