This formulation of the scope of municipal power came to be known as the Dillon Rule : that municipal governments have only the powers expressly granted to them by the state legislature , those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power , and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipality 's existence and functioning ; that any ambiguities in the legislative grant of power should be resolved against the municipality so that its powers are narrowly construed ; that when the state has not specifically directed the method by which the municipality may implement its granted power , the municipality has the discretion to choose the method so long as its choice is reasonable .
It says that municipal governments only have the powers that are expressly granted to them by the state legislature , those that are necessarily implied from that grant of power , and those that are essential and indispensable to the municipality 's existence and functioning .