To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Virginia Bass
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member (Supervisor Bass)
SUBJECT:
title
Consider Placing a Ballot Measure on the June 2024 Ballot for the Creation of the Department of Finance
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Consider placing a ballot measure on the June 2024 ballot to create the Department of Finance; and
2. Direct staff to return with additional information on election timeframes, costs to support a ballot measure and other considerations.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
In November 2015, the Board directed staff, "to review, in consultation with department heads, the current county department structure and responsibilities and report back to the Board with any recommended changes." Staff returned to the Board in February 2016 with several recommendations regarding the county's organizational structure including the creation of the Department of Finance. The Department of Finance would combine two (2) currently separate elected financial offices, the Treasurer-Tax Collector and Auditor-Controller.
The Board chose to move forward with placing two separate ballot measures on the November 2016 ballot for Humboldt County voters to consider: Measure Q (Humboldt County Creation of Finance Department Measure) and Measure R (Humboldt County Finance Department Elective Office Measure). These ballot measures did not pass in 2016 with 53.76% and 51.67%, respectively, of the community voting no.
California Government Code Section 26980 provides:
The board of supervisors of any county may establish the office of director of finance.
(a) The board of supervisors shall submit to the electors of the county the question of whether the office of director of finance shall be established. If a majority of the voters voting on the question at that election favor the establishment of the office, the board of supervisors shall, by ordi...
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