Opinion No. (2006)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General SUSAN DUNCAN LEE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE HECTOR DE LA TORRE, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question: For purposes of calculating the amount of compensation allowed by statute for city council members, do the statutory amendments regarding payments received for serving on a commission or similar body that became effective on January 1, 2006, affect council members who were in office prior to January 1, 2006, so as to reduce their salaries prior to the expiration of their terms of office? CONCLUSION For purposes of calculating the amount of compensation allowed by statute for city council members, the statutory amendments regarding payments received for services on a commission or similar body that became effective on January 1, 2006, do not affect council members who were in office prior to January 1, 2006, so as to reduce their salaries prior to the expiration of their terms of office. Conversely, the amendments do apply to council members whose terms commence on and after January 1, 2006. ANALYSIS The salaries that city council members in a general law city may receive are regulated by statute.…