Hilton Head Island employs a council-manager form of government, with six council members elected from their respective wards and the mayor elected at-large. Both the council persons and the mayor serve two-year terms. Hilton Head is situated within Beaufort County, which also employs a governing County Council, elected to serve two-year terms.
Elected Officials
There are six council members elected from the six wards in a non-partisan election to serve a two-year term.
The Town Council is the legislative branch of the local government. It is responsible for making policy, enacting ordinances, adopting the annual town budget, and planning programs.
The mayor is elected at-large in a non-partisan election and serves a two-year term. The mayor is the presiding officer of the council and has an equal vote on the council.
Town Council meets the first and third Monday of the month.
Appointed Staff
Town Manager: The town manager is appointed by the council and serves at its pleasure. The manager is required to be professionally trained in public administration and to have practical experience in municipal government.
The manager’s responsibility is the day-to-day operation of the town including the appointment and supervision of the staff, the preparation of the town budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, executing the policies established by the town council and overseeing the enforcement of all town ordinances.
Staff Attorney: The staff attorney is hired by the town manager and is salaried by the town. The staff attorney does no outside legal work but deals primarily with internal matters. The main responsibility of this office is to serve in an advisory capacity to the manager and staff as well as boards and commissions, and thereby resolve problems in order to avoid litigation against the town. The person holding this office works closely with the town attorney.
Town Attorney: The town attorney is a statutory officer whose duties are defined in the state and town codes. The person in this office is a private practitioner appointed by the Town Council and is paid an hourly fee for projects in litigation. This attorney handles all litigation brought against the Town of Hilton Head Island.
Director of Community Development: The director of community development is appointed by the town manager. The director is responsible for the administration of the Department of Community Development with divisions of planning, building inspections and engineering.
Director of Finance: The director of finance is appointed by the town manager and manages the overall financial operations of the local government.
Town Clerk: The town clerk is appointed by the town manager and serves as chief custodian of all town records.
Town Boards, Commission and Committees
Members of the town boards, commissions and committees are town residents who volunteer to serve. They are appointed by the Town Council. Persons who wish to serve make application and are screened by the Town Council’s personnel committee.
Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee: Evaluates available revenue from the town’s share of the state-administered accommodations tax (bed tax) and advertises for project proposals. It reviews proposals received and recommends to Town Council which makes the final decision on allocations.
Beautification Committee: Works to improve the overall aesthetics of the island’s public areas.
Board of Adjustment: Hears and decides appeals, and grants Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals: Grants variances from standard building code if deemed necessary.
Corridor Review Committee: Enforces standards and guidelines of Land Management Ordinance in corridors where there is no architectural board already. Considers primarily aesthetics, exterior design, color and materials.
Land Bank Commission: Guides town in maintaining environmental quality, the acquisition of lands for public ownership, open space, scenic easements, parkland, recreation areas and historic sites.
Municipal Election Commissions: Conducts all general and special elections of the Town; certifies candidates for Town Council and Mayor.
Park and Recreation Commission: Assesses the needs of the citizens and makes recommendations for the establishment of an effective Park, Open Space and Recreation System.
Planning Commission: Prepares and updates Comprehensive Plan, reviews proposed zoning and ordinance changes, makes final decisions on proposed minor and major special exception requests and conditional use applications for planned unit development, prepares annual report for Town Council on emergency preparedness, and other related matters.
Shore and Beach Preservation Committee: Develops a shoreline management plan including beach erosion and nourishment; dune preservation and oceanfront construction practices.
Water Commission: Investigates and reports on water supply sources, allocations and conservation.