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Ballot question

City of Benton City Proposition 1: council-manager form of government

On the ballot in
City of Benton City
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Proposition No. 1 City of Benton City Adoption of the Council-Manager Form of Government The City Council for Benton City adopted Resolution 2026-49 concerning a change to the City's form of government. This proposition would abandon the current mayor-council form of government under Chapter 35A.12 RCW and adopt the council-manager form of government under Chapters 35A.06 and 35A.13 RCW, effective March 1, 2027. Said adoption would not affect the City's continuing status as a Code City governed under Title 35A RCW. Should this proposition be approved?

A “Yes” vote means

Benton City would switch from mayor-council to council-manager government on March 1, 2027; the council would hire a professional city manager and pick a mayor from among its members.

A “No” vote means

Benton City would keep its mayor-council form of government, with an elected mayor as the chief administrative officer.

Official plain English statement

The City of Benton City is currently a non-charter code city organized under the Mayor-Council form of government as provided in RCW 35A. l 2. The elected Mayor is the chief administrative officer. Approval of the ballot measure will change Benton City to a non-charter code city organized under the Council-Manager form of government as provided in RCW 35A. 13. As such, the elected Council will select a professional manager to be the chief administrative officer of the City. The Council selects a Mayor from among the Council to preside at Council Meetings and as the ceremonial head of the City.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.