Perry City Council appoints new city manager

Smith brings more than 15 years of local government experience and has served as Perry’s assistant city manager since 2018.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Perry City Council voted on Tuesday to appoint Robert Smith as the next city manager for the City of Perry.

Smith has served as assistant city manager since 2018 and brings more than 15 years of experience in local government administration, public policy and community development.

Smith’s leadership roles and responsibilities

As assistant city manager, Smith oversaw daily operations for all city departments, managed the city’s approximately $70 million all-funds budget, and supported the mayor and council in carrying out Perry’s long-term strategic goals. He also served as acting director of public works and led major capital projects, including the Public Safety Building renovation and the City Hall project.

From 2014 to 2018, Smith served as the city’s director of economic development. In that role, he strengthened relationships with local businesses, led recruitment efforts alongside the Development Authority of Houston County and managed key programs through the Main Street Program and Downtown Development Authority.

Experience in regional planning and community development

Before joining the City of Perry, Smith worked for the Middle Georgia Regional Commission in various roles supporting 11 counties and 22 municipalities. His background includes economic development, planning, finance, human resources and grant administration.

Smith holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in local government administration and a Bachelor of Arts in political science, both from the University of Georgia. He is pursuing the International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager designation and is a member of GCCMA, ICMA and Rotary International.

Smith says he is honored to serve

“I’m deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the city manager in Perry,” Smith said in a news release. “Perry is an exceptional community with a lot of positive things going on. In my time with the city I have seen it grow into a model community, and I look forward to continuing with that momentum in my new role.

“Fortunately, being the city manager in Perry you get to work with forward-thinking elected officials and a tremendous staff in ensuring that Perry remains a destination of choice and a community that thrives.”