Indianapolis ranked third in Forbes 2008 list of “America’s Best Bang for the Buck Cities.”
Mayor Gregory A. Ballard
48th Mayor of Indianapolis
Executive Branch
The Mayor of Indianapolis is the chief executive of the city and the county. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by the citizens of Marion County. There is no limit to the number of terms a mayor may serve.
There are several city departments and other agencies included in the executive branch. The agencies' heads are appointed by the mayor.
Departments
- Department of Administration and Equal Opportunity: Responsible for human resources functions for all city agencies[1]. Enforces the city's anti-workplace discrimination ordinance.
- Department of Metropolitan Development: Carries out urban planning and enforcement of zoning and land-use ordinances. Also responsible for redevelopment of blighted areas and vacant land.
- Department of Parks and Recreation (Indy Parks): Maintains public parks and recreational facilities.
- Department of Public Safety: Includes animal control, emergency management, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Indianapolis Fire Department.
- Department of Public Works: Maintains city infrastructure including streets, sewers, and drainage. Also collects household garbage and investigates illegal dumping.
- Department of Waterworks: Responsible for the city's water utility. The system is operated under contract by Veolia.
Executive Offices
- City Controller: Manages the city's finances. The office controls all purchasing by city agencies, and writes the annual budget.
- Corporation Counsel: Provides legal services to city agencies and represents the city in court. Prosecutes ordinance violations.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch of the city government is the Indianapolis City-County Council, which is composed of 29 members elected to four-year terms. 25 members represent geographic districts and 4 are elected at large.
For more information on city services and resources, please visit
www.indygov.org.