The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and has jurisdiction over the entire island except Mariner's Cove, Blue Heron Point, and Windmill Harbor.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has a Council-Manager form of government.
The Town Manager is the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch and is responsible to the municipal council for the proper administration of all the affairs of the town.
The Town Council exercises all powers not specifically delegated to the Town Manager.
The Mayor has the same powers, duties, and responsibilities as a member of the Town Council.
Also, the Mayor establishes the agenda for Town Council meetings, calls special meetings, executes contracts, deeds, resolutions, and proclamations not designated to the Town Manager, and represents the town at ceremonial functions.

Town departments include Building & Fire Codes, Business License, Code Enforcement, Finance, Fire & Rescue, Human Resources, Legal, Municipal Court, Planning, and Public Projects & Facilities.

The town had a budget of $74,753,260 for fiscal year 2006/2007.
It consists of three separate fiscal accounting funds: the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Debt Service Fund.
The General Fund is the operating fund for the town and accounts for all financial resources of the town except the Capital Projects Fund and the Debt Service Fund.
The Capital Projects Fund is used to acquire land and facilities, and improve public facilities, including roads, bike paths, fire stations, vehicle replacement, drainage improvements, and park development.
The Debt Service Fund accounts for the accumulation of resources and the payment of debt.

On June 5, 2007, the Town Council approved a $93,154,110 budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 on the first reading with a vote of 6–0.
The most recent budget, for the 2010/2011 fiscal year is $74,299,720
Office holders as of December 2014:
David Bennett, Mayor
Marc A. Grant, Ward 1
William (Bill) D. Harkins, Ward 2, Mayor Pro-Temp |
Wm.
Lee Edwards, Ward 3
Kimberly (Kim) W. Likins, Ward 4
Thomas W. Lennox, Ward 5
John J. McCann, Ward 6
Stephen (Steve) Riley, Town Manager
The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and has jurisdiction over the entire island except Mariner's Cove, Blue Heron Point, and Windmill Harbor. The Town of Hilton Head Island has a Council-Manager form of government. The Town Manager is the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch and is responsible to the municipal council for the proper administration of all the affairs of the town. The Town Council exercises all powers not specifically delegated to the Town Manager. The Mayor has the same powers, duties, and responsibilities as a member of the Town Council. Also, the Mayor establishes the agenda for Town Council meetings, calls special meetings, executes contracts, deeds, resolutions, and proclamations not designated to the Town Manager, and represents the town at ceremonial functions.
Town departments include Building & Fire Codes, Business License, Code Enforcement, Finance, Fire & Rescue, Human Resources, Legal, Municipal Court, Planning, and Public Projects & Facilities.
The town had a budget of $74,753,260 for fiscal year 2006/2007. It consists of three separate fiscal accounting funds: the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Debt Service Fund. The General Fund is the operating fund for the town and accounts for all financial resources of the town except the Capital Projects Fund and the Debt Service Fund. The Capital Projects Fund is used to acquire land and facilities, and improve public facilities, including roads, bike paths, fire stations, vehicle replacement, drainage improvements, and park development. The Debt Service Fund accounts for the accumulation of resources and the payment of debt.
On June 5, 2007, the Town Council approved a $93,154,110 budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 on the first reading with a vote of 6–0. The most recent budget, for the 2010/2011 fiscal year is $74,299,720
Office holders as of December 2014:
David Bennett, Mayor
Marc A. Grant, Ward 1
William (Bill) D. Harkins, Ward 2, Mayor Pro-Temp |
Wm. Lee Edwards, Ward 3
Kimberly (Kim) W. Likins, Ward 4
Thomas W. Lennox, Ward 5
John J. McCann, Ward 6
Stephen (Steve) Riley, Town Manager
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina