Back to Municipal Government Services
Municipal Practice — Pricing & Engagement

Transparent Pricing for
Municipal Consulting Services

Choose the engagement model that fits your city's budget, timeline, and needs — à la carte single services, bundled packages for broader impact, or a full advisory retainer for ongoing City Manager support.

A note on municipal procurement Many Texas cities require formal procurement processes (RFQ, RFP, or sole-source justification) for professional services above certain dollar thresholds. Connor Resource Associates is available to provide a scope of work, rate card, or written proposal in any format required by your city's purchasing policy. Contact us to begin that process — there is no obligation and no cost for the initial consultation.
À La Carte
Bundled Packages
Retainer Agreements
Compare All Options
Pricing FAQ

Select only the services your city needs. Every service is available as a standalone engagement with a defined scope, timeline, and fixed project fee. All engagements begin with a free 30-minute discovery call.

City Council training
New Council Orientation — Full DayFrom $3,500

Comprehensive single-day training for newly elected councils covering governance roles, TOMA & TPIA compliance, budget literacy, ethics, ordinance process, and council-manager relations. Includes all materials, handbooks, and compliance certificates.

City under 10,000
$3,500
up to 7 members
City 10,000–50,000
$4,500
up to 7 members
City 50,000+
$5,500
custom scope
Additional members
$200
per person over 7
Multi-Session Training Series (4–6 sessions)From $5,500

Deep-dive governance development delivered over 4–6 sessions across several weeks. Includes AI governance and public trust modules.

4-session series
$5,500
6-session series
$7,500
Virtual delivery
-$500
discount applied
Half-Day Focused WorkshopFrom $1,800

Single-topic 3–4 hour workshop on budget literacy, AI readiness, public trust strategy, ethics, or crisis decision-making. Ideal for returning members or mid-term development.

Single topic
$1,800
Two topics (full day)
$3,200
Annual Refresher ProgramFrom $2,200

Yearly update session covering legislative changes, AI developments, new engagement strategies, and leadership topics.

Half day
$2,200
Full day
$3,800
City Manager advisory services
Crisis Management PlanningFrom $4,000

Development of a comprehensive municipal crisis response plan, interagency coordination framework, communications protocols, and tabletop exercise facilitation.

Plan development
$4,000–$7,000
Tabletop exercise
$2,500
After-action review
$1,500
Budget Evaluation & Fiscal AnalysisFrom $3,500

Independent review of municipal budget, capital improvement plan, and fund structures with written analysis and council-ready presentation.

Budget review
$3,500–$6,000
CIP review
$2,500
Multi-year forecast
$3,000
Ordinance Analysis & Policy DecipheringFrom $1,500

Plain-language analysis of ordinances, codes, or proposed policies with written summary, implementation checklist, and conflict identification.

Single ordinance
$1,500
Code section review
$3,000–$5,000
Policy gap analysis
$2,500
Strategic PlanningFrom $6,000

Facilitated multi-year strategic planning process including stakeholder sessions, goal-setting workshops, and a written strategic plan with implementation roadmap.

City under 10,000
$6,000
City 10,000–50,000
$9,000
City 50,000+
Custom
Staff & Program EvaluationFrom $2,500

Objective departmental performance audit, City Manager evaluation framework design, or program effectiveness review with written findings and recommendations.

Dept. audit
$2,500–$4,500
CM eval framework
$2,000
Program review
$3,000
HR & Workforce PolicyFrom $2,000

Employee handbook development, HR compliance audit, hiring process review, or classification and compensation analysis for municipal workforce.

Handbook development
$3,500
HR compliance audit
$2,500
Policy development
$2,000+
Economic Development StrategyFrom $6,000

Strategic economic development planning, incentive policy development, business attraction frameworks, public-private partnership structuring, and downtown revitalization strategy.

ED strategic plan
$6,000–$12,000
Incentive policy
$3,500
P3 structuring support
$4,500
New & emerging services
AI Governance & Policy Development NewFrom $2,500

Development of a municipal AI use policy, staff guidelines, vendor review checklist, and transparency communication plan. Includes a council briefing session and written policy document ready for adoption.

AI use policy
$2,500
Staff guidelines
$1,500
Full AI readiness package
$4,500
Cybersecurity Policy & Preparedness NewFrom $3,000

Governance-level cybersecurity policy development, staff awareness training facilitation, incident response protocol design, and assistance applying for SLCGP federal cybersecurity grant funding.

Policy development
$3,000
Staff awareness training
$2,000
SLCGP grant application
$3,500
Public Trust & Citizen Engagement Strategy NewFrom $3,500

Community engagement strategy development including communication frameworks, resident feedback systems, public meeting redesign, multilingual outreach planning, and trust-building campaign design.

Engagement strategy
$3,500
Public meeting redesign
$1,800
Full communications plan
$5,500
Succession Planning & Leadership Continuity NewFrom $3,500

Organizational assessment of critical roles, succession plan development, knowledge documentation framework, and leadership pipeline identification.

Organizational assessment
$2,500
Succession plan
$4,500
Full package
$6,500
Media Relations & Crisis Communications NewFrom $1,500

Rapid-response communications support for controversial decisions, public scandals, or crises — including statement drafting, mayor/council media prep, and press conference support.

Statement drafting
$750
Media prep session
$1,500
Full crisis comms
$4,000+
Housing & Homelessness Strategy NewFrom $4,500

Municipal housing needs assessment, homeless services coordination framework, CDBG/HOME/HHSP funding strategy, and nonprofit partnership development.

Needs assessment
$3,500
Funding strategy
$3,000
Full plan
$7,500
Municipal Grant WritingFrom $2,500

Competitive grant proposals for federal, state, and foundation funding — including ARPA, CDBG, infrastructure, public safety, housing, cybersecurity, and community development programs.

State/foundation grant
$2,500–$4,500
Federal grant
$4,500–$8,500
Grant research only
$1,500

Bundled packages combine the most commonly requested services at a reduced total cost — saving 15–25% compared to booking services individually.

Foundation Bundle
New Council Ready
$6,500 flat fee
Everything a newly elected council needs in the first 90 days — legal compliance, governance training, and budget orientation.
Save $1,500 vs. à la carte

What's included

Full-day new council orientation (TOMA, TPIA, roles & responsibilities)
Ethics & conflicts of interest workshop (half-day)
Budget literacy session with City Manager
Council handbook & all compliance certificates
30-day follow-up check-in call
First-90-days action checklist
Most Popular
Comprehensive Bundle
Municipal Leadership Package
$14,500 flat fee
A complete first-term governance package — council training, strategic planning, budget evaluation, and public engagement strategy.
Save $4,000 vs. à la carte

What's included

Full-day new council orientation (all 8 core modules)
AI governance & public trust workshop (half-day)
Budget evaluation & fiscal analysis (written report)
Strategic planning facilitation (2 sessions + written plan)
Community engagement strategy development
All materials, handbooks, and compliance certificates
Two follow-up advisory calls (30 days & 90 days)
Best Value
Forward-Ready Bundle
Modern Municipality Package
$19,500 flat fee
For cities that want to lead — combining governance training, AI readiness, cybersecurity policy, succession planning, and grant funding strategy.
Save $7,000 vs. à la carte

What's included

Full-day new council orientation (all 8 core modules)
AI governance workshop + municipal AI use policy development
Cybersecurity policy & staff awareness training
Succession planning assessment & leadership continuity plan
Public trust & citizen engagement strategy
Grant funding opportunity assessment (state + federal)
One grant proposal (state or federal, city's choice)
All materials, policies, and certificates
Quarterly advisory calls for 12 months
Grant-Focused Bundle
Funding Accelerator
$9,500 flat fee
Purpose-built for cities ready to pursue federal and state funding — grant research, proposal development, and budget narrative support.
Save $2,500 vs. à la carte

What's included

Funding opportunity research & grant calendar development
Two complete grant proposals (state or federal)
Budget narrative development for both proposals
Compliance review & submission packaging
Post-submission debrief and tracking guidance
6-month grant calendar with upcoming deadlines
Crisis & Continuity Bundle
Resilient City Package
$10,500 flat fee
For cities that need to strengthen crisis readiness, communications capacity, and leadership continuity simultaneously.
Save $3,000 vs. à la carte

What's included

Crisis response plan development
Tabletop exercise facilitation
Media relations & crisis communications framework
Cybersecurity incident response protocol
Succession planning assessment for critical roles
Emergency communications templates (residents & media)

Retainer agreements give City Managers ongoing, priority access to Connor Resource Associates expertise. Structured as 6 or 12-month agreements with a fixed monthly fee, billed in advance.

Essential Retainer
Advisory Access
$2,500 / month
Entry-level retainer for smaller cities that need consistent advisory access. Ideal for cities under 15,000 population.

What's included monthly

Up to 10 advisory hours per month
Priority response within 24 hours
Document review (policies, ordinances, staff reports)
Unlimited email and phone consultations
One scheduled advisory call per month
Monthly summary memo to City Manager
Min. 6-month commitment
Standard Retainer — Most Popular
City Manager Partner
$4,500 / month
Full-service retainer for mid-size cities needing ongoing grant writing, strategic support, and council advisory.

What's included monthly

Up to 20 advisory & delivery hours per month
Priority response within 4 business hours
One grant proposal or LOI per quarter
Unlimited document review and policy analysis
Two scheduled advisory calls per month
Council briefing support (one per quarter)
Crisis communications on-call support
Monthly strategy memo + quarterly impact report
Min. 6-month commitment · 12-month saves 10%
Premium Retainer
Full Municipal Partnership
$7,500 / month
Comprehensive partnership for larger or rapidly growing cities needing embedded advisory support across governance, grants, communications, and strategic leadership.

What's included monthly

Up to 40 advisory & delivery hours per month
Same-day priority response
Two grant proposals per quarter
AI governance & cybersecurity policy advisory
Ongoing strategic planning support
Unlimited council briefing support
24/7 crisis communications on-call
Community engagement campaign support
Succession planning & HR policy support
Quarterly in-person or virtual council workshop
Monthly & quarterly reporting packages
12-month commitment required

Compare all three engagement models side by side to find the best fit for your city.

FeatureÀ La CarteBundled PackageRetainer Agreement
How you payPer project, fixed feeSingle flat fee for packageFixed monthly fee
Minimum commitmentNoneOne-time engagement6 or 12 months
Price range$750–$9,000 per service$6,500–$19,500$2,500–$7,500/month
Savings vs. hourlyBaseline pricing15–25% savingsUp to 30% vs. project rates
Response timeStandard schedulingStandard scheduling4 hours – same day (priority)
Grant writing includedAdditional project feeIncluded in some bundles1–2 proposals/quarter included
Crisis supportAdditional project feeIncluded in Resilient City bundleOn-call (Standard & Premium)
Council trainingYes — any formatIncluded in most bundlesAdd-on at discounted rate
Best forCities with a specific defined needNew terms, new councils, or major initiativesOngoing City Manager support year-round
Payment terms50% upfront, 50% on delivery50% upfront, 50% at midpointMonthly in advance

Answers to the questions City Managers and procurement officers ask most before engaging Connor Resource Associates.

Does our city need to go through a formal RFP process to hire Connor Resource Associates?
It depends on your city's purchasing policy and the total contract value. Many Texas cities require a formal RFP or RFQ for professional services above a certain dollar threshold. We are happy to respond to any formal procurement process and can provide a scope of work, rate card, or full proposal in whatever format your purchasing department requires. Contact us and we'll walk you through the options for your specific city.
Do you work with small cities that have limited budgets?
Yes. Some of our most meaningful work has been with small Texas cities — populations under 5,000 — that have limited staff and no dedicated consulting resources. We offer scaled pricing based on city size, and our à la carte model means you can start with exactly what you need and nothing more. We also help small cities identify grant funding that can cover the cost of consulting services.
Can grant funds pay for your consulting services?
In many cases, yes. Some federal and state grant programs allow professional services and technical assistance costs to be included in the project budget. CDBG, certain ARPA uses, and several Texas state programs permit consulting fees as allowable costs when properly documented. We can advise you on which funding sources may be able to offset consulting costs.
What is your standard hourly rate for work outside a retainer?
Our standard advisory and consulting rate is $225 per hour. For retainer clients, overflow hours are billed at $175 per hour. Most of our engagements are priced on a fixed-fee or project basis rather than hourly — this gives cities budget certainty and aligns our incentives with delivering results rather than maximizing hours.
How long does a typical project take?
Timelines vary by service. A council orientation can be delivered in 2–3 weeks from engagement. A full strategic planning process typically takes 8–12 weeks. Grant proposals require 3–6 weeks depending on funder deadlines. Budget evaluations typically take 4–6 weeks. We discuss and agree on timelines during the initial discovery call and build them into the written scope of work.
Is our city's information kept confidential?
Absolutely. All client information — personnel matters, fiscal data, legal exposure, internal conflicts — is treated with strict professional confidentiality. We include a mutual confidentiality clause in all engagement agreements. We never reference client cities by name in marketing materials without explicit written permission.
We've never hired a consultant before. Where should we start?
Start with a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll ask about your city's current challenges, upcoming priorities, and budget environment — and give you an honest assessment of where outside expertise would be most valuable. Many cities start with a single focused engagement and expand from there as they see results. There is no minimum commitment and no cost for the initial conversation.

Let's find the right fit for your city.

Free 30-minute discovery call — no obligation, no sales pressure. Just a conversation about what your city needs.
Schedule a free discovery call →