The form of municipal government varies widely.
Most larger cities have an executive system managed by a mayor or city manager.
Many smaller municipalities, especially in the eastern part of the country, are managed by a town board system overseen by a board of selectmen. Some towns in New England still decide many issues by town meetings. Additional services can include municipal courts, jails, hospitals, housing, parks, libraries, colleges, public transportation, parking, conservation, airports, electricity, gas, and health and welfare services. In addition to providing these services, municipalities must negotiate with unions that represent many local workers, provide municipal employees with health and retirement benefits, arrange for various sorts of insurance coverage, and manage pension and other investment funds. Learn about about the Municipal Government industry's trends, developments, threats, challenges, web site links, and more by ordering this Industry Profile .