Battle Ground adopted the council-manager plan in 1997. Under this form of government the elected officials are the community leaders and policy makers who establish a vision for the city and appoint a city manager to carry out policy and ensure that all residents are being equitably served. The manager coordinates the work of department heads and other employees, who help ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of services. By building public/private partnerships, the manager targets all of the community's resources to solve current issues.