Opinion No. (2006)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General GREGORY L. GONOT Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE JENNY OROPEZA, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. Is the 5 percent salary increase authorized for city council members of a general law city to be applied to the currently received salary amount for the total number of years since the last salary adjustment? 2. May the additional compensation authorized for a mayor of a general law city be increased during his or her term of office as mayor? CONCLUSIONS 1. The 5 percent salary increase authorized for city council members of a general law city is to be applied to the currently received salary amount for the total number of years since the last salary adjustment. 2. The additional compensation authorized for a mayor of a general law city may be increased during his or her term of office as mayor. ANALYSIS The two questions presented for resolution concern the compensation authorized for city council members and mayors of general law cities in California. We are asked to interpret two different statutes. The first is Government Code section 36516 , 1 which states: "(a) A city council may enact an…