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About the City
Core Purpose
We work together to build and maintain a community of the highest quality for present and future generations.
Respect
- Consistently doing what is necessary, expected, and required, and when able to do so, exceeding expectations
- Demonstrating through our actions that we hold ourselves and our citizens in high enough regard to do what we say we will do, in the timeframe we commit to
- Recognizing that everyone has dignity and deserves helpful, courteous, and prompt attention
Integrity
- Consistently adhering to high professional and ethical standards
- Keeping commitments to our citizens, co-workers, and others
- Possessing an unwavering commitment to do the right things right
Service Above Self
- Being open and approachable to council members, citizens, and our fellow employees at all times
- Finding ways to say yes
- Fostering a servant's heart in ourselves and each other by conscientiously doing what is best for the community in all cases
- Helping to make our citizens' lives better
- Passionately committed to serving others
- Treating our customers like we would like to be treated
Excellence in All We Do
- Communicating regularly and honestly with council members, citizens, and employees
- Delivering on promises made, taking personal responsibility for achieving community-minded goals
- Having a can-do attitude
- Leading by example, recognizing the importance of working together to meet everyone's needs, treating everyone with courtesy, dignity, and respect
- Sharing resources and information freely
City Hall
Abilene's City Hall building is located at 555 Walnut Street, and has three floors containing the offices for various City departments.
First Floor
Main Entrance
- Human Resources
- Employment
- Risk Management
- Neighborhood Services
- Water Administration
Northeast Entrance
- Planning & Development Services
- Building Inspections
- Code Compliance
- Planning & Zoning
Second Floor
- Administration
- City Manager
- City Secretary
- Communications & Media
- City Council Chambers
- Finance
- Accounting
- Cashiers
- Finance Conference Room
- Legal
- City Attorney
- Public Works
- Engineering
- Stormwater Services
Basement
- Basement Conference Room
- Custodial Services
- Employee Break Room
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
- Information Technology
A mother-friendly room is available in the Employee Break Room
City Charter Facts
- Abilene is a home rule city. It has all powers granted to home rule cities by the constitution and laws of Texas. The municipal government provided by the City Charter is known as "Council-Manager Government." All powers of the City are vested in an elected City Council, which enacts legislation, adopts budgets, and determines policies.
- The City Council consists of six Council members and a Mayor, all of whom are elected at large. Each Council member serves for a term of three years. Terms for the City Council are on a three year staggered basis such that two Council members are elected each year. The Mayor and each Council member receive a salary of one dollar per year for each year he or she serves as Mayor or Council member.
- The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City who executes the laws and administers the government of the City. The City's fiscal year begins on October 1 each year, and ends on the following September 30.
- The Mayor appoints the City Manager, the City Secretary, the City Attorney, and the Judge of Municipal Court with the approval of the Council.
- The people of Abilene are dedicated to the principle of local self-government, under law, as interpreted by the light of reason, and have established a municipal government capable of efficiently translating the wishes of the voters into effective administration as promptly and economically as possible. The first Abilene Charter went into effect in 1911.
Read our full charter online.