City Managers: Do They Promote Fiscal Efficiency?

:Debate over the virtues of one or another form of municipal government has raged since the early days of the reform movement. Proponents of professional municipal management have based their argument on the virtues of having a person trained and practiced in the skills needed to manage the diverse operations and functions that make up the modern city. This line of reasoning encompasses the premise that professional management brings efficiency to municipal management. However, little research has focused on this aspect of professional management. This study uses data from a nationwide survey of cities to test the hypothesis that cities with professional management achieve measurable efficiencies compared to cities without such management. These efficiencies include reduced levels of municipal expenditures and property taxes. The results of this analysis provide significant new information for both scholars and practitioners.