Your Local Government: Delivering Daily Services, Building Community

Municipal governments are responsible for providing essential local services, managing public infrastructure, and ensuring public safety. Three key responsibilities include maintaining local roads and public facilities, operating utility services like water and sanitation, and providing police and fire protection.

Public Safety and Protection: Operating local police and fire departments, managing animal control, and enforcing local ordinances also known as laws.

Infrastructure Maintenance and Utilities: Building and repairing local streets, maintaining streetlights and parks, and providing sanitation (garbage disposal) and water services.

Planning and Regulation: Managing zoning, land-use planning, and building permits to guide community growth and development.

Other functions include economic development which includes attracting new businesses and industry to the city.

The City of North Chicago is a home rule municipality governed by a Mayor and City Council comprised of seven Aldermen. The Mayor and Aldermen are elected to four-year terms and may be elected for an indefinite number of terms. Aldermen represent specific Wards in the City. (See Ward Map)  This legislative body determines the strategic mission and vision, formulates policy, approves the annual budget, and determines the property tax rate. The Mayor operates as chief administrative officer of the City, and is responsible for direction and supervision of the day-to-day affairs, activities and services of the City.