Running a small government comes with a long list of responsibilities and a short list of resources. You’re balancing public expectations, legal obligations, and day-to-day operations, and you’re doing it with a limited team and funding. As a result, local governance is full of common challenges, but we’re here to help your team overcome them. Let’s start by learning to recognize where things tend to go sideways, then building habits that help you stay grounded when things get hectic.
1) Budget Pressure and Limited Staff
Smaller teams wear a lot of hats, and that can stretch people thin. If your crew handles finance, code enforcement, communications, and admin—all before lunch—you’re not alone.
To help your staff feel less like they’re floundering in a sea of endless responsibilities, turn to short, focused planning cycles. Keep your budget, capital plan, fee schedule, and staffing chart aligned. If you’re feeling extra buried, revisit the essentials of strategic planning for local governments; a solid plan gives you a filter for what to delegate to your staff—and what to let go.
2) Sunshine Laws and Public Expectations
Residents want transparency, and the law requires it. Therefore, get in the habit of posting your meeting notices on time, writing clear agendas, and capturing what happened with clean minutes. Additionally, if your board meets in executive session, make sure you’ve cited the right legal reason, stated it publicly, kept the discussion on topic, and returned to open session properly.
3) Purchasing Without Pitfalls
Even small-dollar purchases bring risk when there’s no process behind them. Set up a basic structure: quotes for smaller items, sealed bids for bigger ones, cooperative agreements when they make sense, and a fallback for true emergencies. Moreover, stick to clear contracts that spell out who’s doing what, how long it lasts, what happens if something goes wrong, and who carries the liability.
4) Development Decisions and Legal Process
Zoning and land use cases can get heated fast. Therefore, treat them with care. If you’re making a decision that looks, feels, or functions like a court hearing, you need to stick to due process. Ensure proper notice, a fair hearing, a solid record, and written findings that connect your decision back to your code. Additionally, help your board stay away from private discussions with applicants or neighbors, since those casual chats can raise legal red flags.
Conclusion
Working in local government doesn’t have to feel like you’re always scrambling for time and resources. There will always be hard days, but being smart about the common challenges and learning to overcome them can prevent a lot of needless toil. Start today to create structure that works for your board, your staff, and your community.
