Opinion No. (2001)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General CLAYTON P. ROCHE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE EDWARD VINCENT, MEMBER OF THE STATE SENATE, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. Who has the statutory authority to set the amount of compensation for an elected city treasurer of a general law city? 2. May an initiative measure, by ordinance, set the amount of compensation for an elected city treasurer of a general law city at the same amount received by members of the city council as prescribed by law? CONCLUSIONS 1. The city council has the statutory authority to set the amount of compensation for an elected city treasurer of a general law city. 2. An initiative measure, by ordinance, may set the amount of compensation for an elected city treasurer of a general law city at the same amount received by members of the city council as prescribed by law. ANALYSIS General law cities in California are those that do not have their own municipal charters. They are subject to all the laws enacted by the Legislature as set forth in section 7 of article XI of the Constitution: "A . . . city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and…