Dixon, California, Appointed City Treasurer, Measure L (November 2016)
| Measure L: Dixon Appointed City Treasurer |
|---|
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local election and voting laws |
| Related articles |
| Local election and voting laws on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Solano County, California ballot measures City governance on the ballot |
| See also |
| Dixon, California |
A measure making the city treasurer an appointed position was on the ballot for Dixon voters in Solano County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of making the position of city treasurer an appointed position instead of an elected one, with the treasurer appointed by the city council. |
| A no vote was a vote against making the position of city treasurer an appointed position instead of an elected one. |
Election results
| Measure L | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 4,276 | 61.72% | ||
| No | 2,652 | 38.28% | ||
- Election results from Solano County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the office of the City Treasurer for the City of Dixon be appointive, with the first appointment occurring upon the expiration of the term of the current City Treasurer in 2016?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Dixon City Attorney:
| “ |
Measure L asks Dixon voters whether the position of City Treasurer should be appointed by the City Council rather than elected every four years. If Dixon voters approve Measure L, the City Council will appoint the City Treasurer when the City certifies the November 8, 2016 election results. The purpose of Measure L is to save City funds by eliminating the need to place the City Treasurer on the ballot. California law requires that general law cities, like Dixon, have a City Treasurer. City Treasurers may be appointed or elected. The Dixon City Council can only appoint a City Treasurer if voters first approve the change. Under current law, the requirements to run for City Treasurer are that an individual be at least 18 years of age and be a registered voter of the City. If Measure L passes, the City Council may set education and training requirements, review the City Treasurer’s performance annually, and remove the requirement that the City Treasurer be a Dixon resident. While the City Treasurer is generally responsible for receiving and depositing City funds, these duties are handled by the City’s Finance Department. The Dixon City Treasurer is an elected position and serves a four year term. In recent years, the City Council has appointed a City Treasurer due to a lack of candidates. If the City Treasurer becomes an appointed position, the City will save money on future election costs. A "yes" vote on Measure L will convert the office of Dixon City Treasurer into an appointed position. If a majority of Dixon voters approve Measure L, the City Council will appoint the next City Treasurer beginning in 2016 when the term of the current City Treasurer ends. A "no" vote on Measure L will leave the City Treasurer as an elected office. If Measure L fails, the candidate receiving the most votes in the November 2016 election will be elected as the City Treasurer.[2] |
” |
| —Dixon City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Jack Bachelor, Mayor
- Scott Pederson, Councilmember and former City Treasurer
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Vote YES to make the City Treasurer an appointed position. Transitioning to an appointed City Treasurer will save taxpayer money and ensure only the most qualified individuals are eligible to hold the position. Measure L is a cost-saving measure. The City pays to hold an election for City Treasurer every four years. Yet, candidates for the office have been scarce due to a lack of interest. The result has been additional costs to the City for unnecessary elections. Currently, any citizen who is a resident of the City can run for treasurer without having technical skills, professional experience or qualifications to adequately perform the duties of the office. The City Treasurer plays a limited but important role in overseeing the City’s financial operations and is an essential tool in protecting public investment funds. Municipal finance is a complex field and a City Treasurer should have knowledge, training, and experience with government accounting, financial markets and investment policies to best serve the public. Given the historical lack of interest in the position, Dixon risks an unqualified individual being awarded the position simply because they run unopposed. If the position becomes appointed, the Council can establish training and experience standards necessary to appoint the most qualified City Treasurer. Dixon has internal controls and checks and balances that provide public oversight and transparency. Independent auditors conduct annual audits of the City’s books which are then presented to the Council and residents at public meetings. The City’s financial accountability practices eliminate the need for an elected City Treasurer. On behalf of the City Council and as a former City Treasurer and current Mayor, we endorse Measure L.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- George Guynn Jr., President, Solano County Taxpayers Association
- Gary Wayne Riddle, former elected city treasurer
- Joe Di Paola
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
VOTE NO on MEASURE L! The City Council has decided to put this measure on the ballot to change the City Treasurer from an elected official to an appointed position. Under current law the elected Dixon City Treasurer must live and vote in Dixon. An appointed City Treasurer does not have to be a resident of Dixon. Under the new system of district elections for the Dixon City Council, the City Treasurer is the only elected office, besides the Mayor, that is chosen by all the voters of Dixon. lf Measure L passes the City Council will appoint someone who is responsible to them alone. The checks and balances of an elected City Treasurer were important to the creators of our Constitution and that needs to be preserved. Our city government needs an elected City Treasurer who represents the entire city - not someone that answers only to the City Council. Keeping the position elected means the voters hold the power, not Council who can fill the position with their “rubber stamped” appointees. An elected City Treasurer acts as a check on the City Council and the City Manager. in fact we should also change the City Clerk to an elected position, accountable to the voters, to avoid violations of Elections Codes by allowing your personal voting information becoming public record as happened during the sewer initiative process. The City Council had no problem putting Measure L on the ballot at a cost, but refused your right to vote on the sewer initiative complaining it was too costly. With this kind of logic, can we really trust them? THIS IS A NO BRAINER! Who will want to give up an elected position for an appointee who will not even have to be a Dixon resident? VOTE NO ON MEASURE L.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Dixon, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Dixon Local election and voting laws. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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