---
title: What are the Department Heads?
description: "\"Learn how Montana cities and towns organize essential service departments and the mayor’s authority to appoint and supervise department heads.\""
---

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April 3, 2026

# What are the Department Heads?

## "Municipal Service Departments in Montana: Structure, Oversight, and Executive Authority"

In all cities and towns, the delivery of essential municipal services is provided by the several departments that comprise the operating capacity of a municipal government. With significant variation depending upon the size of the government, these service delivery departments usually include:

1. Police Department
2. Fire Department (required only in Class 1 and Class 2 Cities)
3. Public Works Department
4. Public Utilities Departments
5. Parks and Recreation
6. Planning Department
7. Administration Department
8. Finance Department

The duties and responsibilities of each of these departments are generally defined in state law and should be detailed in local operating policies prepared by the executive and approved by the council. Here it is important to note that the heads of these departments in the council‐mayor form of government are appointed (hired) by the mayor with the consent of the commission and are supervised by the mayor unless otherwise provided by ordinance. However, the department heads may be terminated for “just cause” by the mayor without reference to the council, as is the case with all other employees of the municipal government.  
Prudent council members will take care to deal with department heads through the mayor or city manager so as to avoid any possibility of disrupting the supervisory chain of command. The individual likely to be compromised in such a circumstance, as too often occurs in municipal government, is not the council member nor the mayor but the department head, who is, after all, supervised solely by the mayor.

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Resources prepared by the MSU Extension Local Government Center are intended for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. For interpretation or application of the law, please consult qualified legal counsel. The Montana State University Extension Service is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach.

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