When he was a management development associate for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, ICMA Member Scot Wrighton (who currently serves as city manager of Decatur, Georgia) developed this questionnaire for the Georgia City/County Management Association.

These two documents (a pdf and a customizable Word file) provide an invaluable checklist any local government can use to determine whether to hire a professional manager/administrator for the community. Includes a cost-benefit analysis, lost-opportunity analysis, process analysis, and political (public perception and council motives) analysis. Use this information to strengthen the case in support of professional local government management within your community.