Branson explores shift to ‘home rule charter city’

During a public study session on December 9, 2025, the Branson Board of Aldermen explored the possibility of transforming Branson from a “fourth-class city” into a “home rule charter city.” The goal is for the city of Branson to gain greater flexibility in governing itself.

Jackie Graves, an attorney with the St. Louis firm Lewis Rice, gave a presentation to the Board. She leads her firm’s municipal law, zoning and finance group. Currently, she serves as the city attorney for multiple charter municipalities.

Graves used her experience to explain how adopting a charter would allow Branson to create its own local “constitution” rather than relying on the one-size-fits-all state statutes that currently dictate how the city operates.

To help Branson residents, businesses and voters understand what this shift would mean for them, here are the key takeaways from the presentation, in a question-and-answer format:

Question: What is the main difference between being a “fourth-class city” and a “charter city”?

Answer: A fourth-class city must follow specific state laws for how it operates, while a charter city creates its own local “constitution” to decide how it governs itself.

Question: Why would Branson want to switch to a home rule charter?

Answer: Becoming a charter city gives the community more flexibility to solve local problems quickly and customize the government to fit Branson’s unique tourism and infrastructure needs.

Question: Who writes this new charter for the city?

Answer: The voters elect a group of 13 independent commissioners who are responsible for writing the charter.

Question: Who is allowed to run for a seat on the charter commission?

Answer: Generally, any qualified voter who lives within the city limits can run to be a commissioner.

Question: How long does the process take from start to finish?

Answer: The entire process typically takes about 18 months to two years, which includes the election of commissioners and the one year they are given to write the document.

Question: Do the voters get the final say on whether to adopt the new charter?Answer: Yes, after the commission finishes writing the charter, it goes back on the ballot for a simple majority vote by the public.

Question: What happens if the voters reject the proposed charter at the election?

Answer: The process ends, and the city would have to start over if it still wanted to pursue it.

Question: How much will this process cost the city?

Answer: While costs can vary based on how often the commission meets, a rough estimate for the budget is around $100,000.

Question: Does a new charter replace all our current city ordinances?

Answer: No, the charter acts like a layer on top of existing laws; current ordinances stay in place unless they directly conflict with the new charter.

Question: Will becoming a charter city change existing taxes or special districts like the 76 CID?

Answer: Typically, language is written into the charter to ensure that all existing taxes and special districts remain the same.

Question: Can the charter change the type of government we have, such as adding or removing a city administrator?

Answer: Yes, the charter can decide who manages the city, a mayor, a city administrator, or both, and it can define their powers.

Question: Could the new charter change how we elect our aldermen or the size of our wards?

Answer: Yes, the charter commission can decide whether aldermen are elected by wards or by the whole city, and can set term limits and the number of council members.

Question: What happens to the current mayor and aldermen if the voters approve becoming a charter city?

Answer: Usually, the charter is written so that current elected officials finish their terms, and the new rules would apply to the next election.

Question: If we later don’t like something in the charter, is it hard to change?

Answer: The charter acts like a constitution, so changing it requires a vote of the people, which is why it is best to keep the initial charter document broad regarding details.

Question: How can residents share their opinions with the commission while the commission is drafting the charter?

Answer: The commission usually holds public forums to inform the community about what it is considering and to gather feedback before the final vote.

At the conclusion of the study session, Mayor Milton proposed that the Board first take time to consider the detailed information they had just received. He specifically encouraged the Board to schedule another public study session to gather community input on what form of government they want for the city.