Sacramento, California – Sacramento residents who have wondered what happens behind the doors of City Hall now have an opportunity to step inside the workings of local government.
The City of Sacramento has opened applications for its 2026 City Management Academy, a multi-week instructional program designed to show residents and city business owners how municipal decisions are made, how services are delivered and how public resources are managed. Applications opened Monday, June 1, and must be submitted by Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
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The academy is built around a simple idea: city government becomes easier to engage with when people understand how it works. Instead of observing from the outside, participants will hear directly from elected officials and city department staff through more than 20 guest lectures covering the daily work of Sacramento government, budget development and the public policy process.
For the 2026 class, sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Participants will gather in person for a learning experience that reaches across the many services residents encounter in everyday life. Topics are expected to include public safety, infrastructure, utilities, human resources, information technology, 311 services, economic development, housing and other city responsibilities.
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The program offers more than a series of presentations. It gives participants a closer view of the connection between city departments and the decisions that shape neighborhoods, streets, businesses and public services. Questions about road work, emergency response, housing policy, city budgets or non-emergency service requests can often appear complicated from the outside. The academy is intended to bring those processes into clearer focus.
“The City Management Academy gives participants a closer look at how local government operates and the many services that support Sacramento residents every day,” Community Engagement Analyst Ari Green said.
“We hope participants leave the program feeling more informed, connected, and empowered to take part in civic life.”
That goal carries particular meaning in a growing city facing demanding public issues. Sacramento continues to confront questions involving housing affordability, infrastructure needs, public safety, homelessness response, economic development and environmental concerns. Each issue involves layers of planning, staffing, funding and public input. Through the academy, participants can better understand how those layers come together and where community voices fit into the process.
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Eligibility is open to people who are at least 16 years old and either live in the City of Sacramento or own a business within city limits. A $50 materials fee applies, although the city states that waivers may be available on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants will be notified of decisions by email on Friday, August 7, 2026, by 4:59 p.m. The program will then continue through the fall, concluding with a graduation ceremony during the Sacramento City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 17, at 5 p.m.
For many participants, the value of the academy may continue well beyond graduation. A better understanding of city operations can help residents take part in council meetings, follow public projects, communicate more effectively about neighborhood needs or explore future roles in civic service. Business owners may also gain a clearer picture of the departments and policies that affect local commerce and community development.
The academy also creates an uncommon meeting place: residents with different backgrounds and experiences learning together, asking questions and building connections with the staff members whose work often remains unseen until a problem arises or a service is needed.
Those unable to participate in person can still explore the city’s educational resources through the CMA on Demand series, which provides access to presentations about Sacramento government and its services.
Applications and full program information are available through the City of Sacramento’s City Management Academy webpage. Interested residents and business owners may also access the 2026 application form before the July 17 deadline.
In a city where public decisions influence everything from streets and safety to housing and neighborhood life, the academy offers Sacramento residents something practical and valuable: a chance to understand the government that serves them, and a stronger foundation for helping shape what comes next.