Council-manager form of government ballot measure

A: There will be four City of Ketchum-related questions posed to voters (shown below). Questions one and two pertain to the current mayor-council form of government. Questions three and four pertain to the council-manager form of government.

1. In the event the City of Ketchum retains the current mayor-council form of government, please vote for one candidate for Mayor.
2. In the event the City of Ketchum retains the current mayor-council form of government, please vote for two candidates to fill the current open City Council positions.
3. Shall the City of Ketchum adopt the council-manager form of government?
4. In the event voters approve the question to change to the council-manager form of government, please vote for five candidates to fill all City Council positions.

Voters are free to answer all questions on the ballot or as many as they choose. To save yourself time at the polls, click here to review a sample ballot showing all City of Ketchum-related questions for your review.

A: A simple majority of 50% plus one is required.

A:

1. The total number of Ketchum City Council seats would increase from four to five.
2. The five City Council candidates on the fall 2025 ballot who receive the most votes will be elected. Of those five, the three who receive the most votes will serve four-year terms, and the remaining two will serve two-year terms.
3. The new council members would be sworn in during the first City Council meeting in January 2026.
4. After the new council members are sworn in, the City Council will elect one of its members to serve a two-year term as Mayor and determine how they would like to proceed in selecting a City Manager.

A: There is no significant difference in fiscal cost between the city’s current form of government and the council-manager form of government, as Ketchum already employs a City Administrator.

A: The City of Ketchum has employed a City Administrator since the early 1970s. In general, this position oversees the city’s daily operations. The position’s specific scope depends on the duties assigned to them by the elected Mayor. Under a council-manager form of government, executive and administrative duties are directly assigned to the City Manager.

C

A: The City Council will perform annual performance evaluations, which include public feedback, and can terminate the City Manager’s employment via a simple majority vote.

A: Currently, four leadership positions are recommended and nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. These include the City Administrator, Attorney, Treasurer, and Clerk. The remaining leadership positions are selected by the City Administrator in consultation with the Mayor. Under the city-manager form of government, the City Attorney, Treasurer, and Clerk would be nominated by the City Manager and confirmed by the City Council. All other leadership positions would be hired by the City Manager.

A: The council-manager form of government ballot structure was created based on guidance provided by the Idaho Secretary of State. Asking voters to choose whether they would like to adopt the council-manager form of government and, if so, who they would elect to serve on the City Council at the same time avoids the need to hold a special election to select City Council members if the council-manager form of government passes.

A: Changes will not occur until the first City Council meeting in January 2026, where council members are sworn into office.

A: Initially, if the council-manager form of government passes, the City Council would appoint one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two-year term. After that, they could continue appointing the Mayor or pass an ordinance to have the public vote for a mayor directly.