Which of the following is considered a weakness of the council-manager form of government?

The choice indicating that powerful city managers can hide information from the council reflects a notable weakness in the council-manager form of government. In this structure, the city manager is responsible for the daily operations and administration of the municipality while the elected council members hold a more legislative role. If the city manager is powerful and lacks accountability, there is a risk that they may withhold information that the council needs to make informed decisions, leading to a lack of trust and potential mismanagement of resources. This power dynamic can create barriers in transparency and hinder effective governance.

The other options relate to different aspects of this form of government but do not specifically capture a critical vulnerability like the potential for information concealment. Part-time council members might struggle with availability but this does not directly affect the flow of information or decision-making. Mayoral control over budget allocations can vary greatly depending on local laws and the specific governance structure, and while councils may indeed have limited authority, it does not inherently mean that information flow is compromised. Overall, the potential for a city manager to hide information poses a significant challenge to effective oversight in the council-manager system.