Opinion No. (1997)

DANIEL E. LUNGREN Attorney General ANTHONY S. Da VIGO Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE LIZ FIGUEROA, MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. May the city council of a general law city reduce the salary of its members during their current terms of office? 2. May the city council of a general law city reduce the additional salary of an elected mayor during his or her current term of office? 3. May the city council of a general law city reduce the health and welfare benefits of its members, including the elected mayor, during their current terms of office? CONCLUSIONS 1. The city council of a general law city may not reduce the salary of its members during their current terms of office. 2. The city council of a general law city may not reduce the additional salary of an elected mayor during his or her current term of office. 3. The city council of a general law city may not reduce the health and welfare benefits of its members, including the elected mayor, during their current terms of office. ANALYSIS During a recent city election, a slate of candidates for city council campaigned on the promise of reducing the salaries…