Page Tools

Departments

 

The City of Rancho Mirage, located in eastern Riverside County in Southern California, was incorporated on August 3, 1973, and became a Charter City on December 25, 1997, as a result of a Citywide election. According to official State estimates, the City has a permanent population of 17,180 within a boundary of approximately 25 square miles. The City sits at the base of the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains and is an integral part of the larger, world-renowned resort and retirement area known as the Coachella Valley.

The City operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The five City Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in alternate slates every two years. The Mayor is appointed by the City Council for a one-year period on a rotating basis. The Mayor presides over City Council meetings and represents the City at many public functions. The City Council also serves as the Boards of Directors of the Redevelopment Agency, Housing Authority, Community Services District and the Joint Powers Financing Authority component units as well as the Library. The City Council appoints the City Manager who heads the executive branch of the government, implements policies as directed and established by the City Council and manages the administrative and operational functions through the department directors. The City Manager appoints the department directors with the exception of the City Clerk and the City Attorney who are both appointed by the City Council. The City Manager also serves as the City Treasure and the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency and Housing Authority.

The City of Rancho Mirage provides a full range of services, including police and fire protection, affordable housing programs, a highly-regarded public library, the construction and maintenance of streets and other infrastructure as well as recreational and cultural activities.

The City operates under a two-year budget cycle in order to achieve greater time and cost efficiencies in contrast to an annual budget. The City's annual operating and capital improvements budgets are adopted by resolutions for the two fiscal years that begin July 1st. Separate resolutions are adopted by the City Council and the Boards of Directors of the Library, Redevelopment Agency, Community Services District, Joint Powers Financing Authority and the Housing Authority for the specific funds under their supervision.

During the month of April, in the second year of the two-year budget cycle, staff reviews City Council/Boards of Directors priorities and the projected revenue and expenditure estimates of the second year budget to use as a basis for analyzing the adjustments necessary to the original second year budget. Staff then prepares a report to present the proposed adjustments to the City Council/Boards of Directors for their review and adoption, as presented or amended, at a public hearing during a scheduled City Council/Boards of Directors meeting in June.