BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 546 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 546 (Stone) As Amended March 19, 2013 Majority vote LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Achadjian, Levine, Alejo, | | | | |Bradford, Gordon, | | | | |Melendez, Mullin, | | | | |Waldron, Atkins | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Authorizes the board of supervisors in Santa Cruz County, by ordinance, to consolidate the duties of the offices of Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector into the elected office of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. EXISTING LAW allows the board of supervisors in Mendocino County, Sonoma County, Trinity County, and Tulare County, by ordinance, to consolidate the duties of the offices of Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector into the elected office of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. FISCAL EFFECT : None COMMENTS : This bill allows the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (Board) to consolidate the duties of the offices of Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector into the elected office of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, through an ordinance. This bill is sponsored by the author. According to the author's office, "(AB 546 will) grant the (Board) the flexibility to consolidate the departments of Auditor-Controller and of Treasurer-Tax collector into the elected office of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, if a vacancy occurs." Current law enumerates a number of county officers in addition to the county board of supervisors. County supervisors can adopt ordinances that consolidate many of these separate offices. In addition, the Legislature has allowed specific counties to consolidate other offices, most recently with SB 567 (Aanestad), Chapter 703, Statutes of 2008, which allows Trinity County to AB 546 Page 2 combine the elected office of Auditor-Controller with the elected position of Treasurer-Tax Collector, and AB 1318 (Evans), Chapter 407, Statutes of 2005, which grants the same authority to Sonoma County. In a letter to the Board dated April 2, the Santa Cruz County Treasurer communicates a desire to begin a conversation with the Board, the County Administrative Office, County Counsel, the Auditor-Controller, and the Assessor-Recorder regarding the possible consolidation of the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office into the span of responsibility of the Auditor-Controller. The letter recommends a timeline for specified actions of the Board and associated offices, with the goal of completing the consolidation before the opening of filing for the 2014 election cycle. While consideration of election timelines may be appropriate, the Legislature may also wish to consider whether this bill is premature given that the Board has not yet taken an official position on this proposal. Analysis Prepared by : Angela Mapp / L. GOV. / (916) 319-3958 FN: 0000230