The City of Abilene operates under the council-manager form of government. Under this system, with approval of city council, the mayor appoints a city manager who acts as the chief executive officer of the government. In the chief executive capacity, the city manager works with the city council, city department directors, and city staff to develop and implement policies guiding the city. This general function may take a number of forms including coordination of daily operations and long range development of the city; preparation of the annual budget; development and implementation of personnel regulations, financial and administrative policies; and other actions as required by the mayor and city council or Code of Ordinances
The city attorney, municipal court judge, and city secretary are also appointed by the mayor with approval of council. All other officials and department heads are hired by and responsible to the city manager. The city manager's office staff includes three assistant city managers, two executive secretaries, and a community information coordinator.
Click here to meet the City of Abilene management staff.
The city manager can be reached at
(325) 676-6206 or via email at larry.gilley@abilenetx.com
555 Walnut Street, Suite 203
PO Box 60
Abilene, Texas 79604-0060
fax: (325) 676-6229
Larry Gilley was appointed City Manager for the City of Abilene, Texas in June 2002. Prior to joining the City of Abilene, Mr. Gilley served as City Manager for the City of San Marcos, Texas for almost 14 years. He began his career in municipal government as City Manager in Bovina, Texas in 1976 and later served as City Manager of Panhandle, Texas. He was appointed as the Assistant City Manager in San Marcos in 1987 and was appointed as City Manager there in September 1988.
Mr. Gilley has been active in his professional associations and is a member of the International City Management Association and the Texas City Management Association, of which he is a past president. He has served on the MPA Advisory Council at Texas State University where he has also served as an Adjunct Graduate Faculty member. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Tech University and a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University.
The International City Management Association has awarded Mr. Gilley its professional service award for In-Service Training; and, in 2000, Mr. Gilley was named as “Professional Administrator of the Year” by the Cen-Tex Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration.
Mr. Gilley is married to Stacy Gilley and he has five children.