Bill Summary

House Research Department

         File Number:     H.F. 14                                                               

                 Version:     As introduced

                    Date:    January 23, 2009

                                                                                  

                    Authors:     Hamilton and Torkelson

                    Subject:     Jackson County, appointment of auditor-treasurer

                     Analyst:     Deborah A. Dyson   

 

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Under general law in chapter 375A, a county may make the office of auditor-treasurer appointive if approved by a referendum.  This bill would allow Jackson County to make this office an appointed position, subject to an 80 percent vote of the county board and reverse referendum in which ten percent of the registered voters of the county could petition for a referendum on the appointment if they wanted to vote on the question.  It also provides for the current officeholder to complete the term to which the officer was elected before the office is made appointive.  It would be effective upon local approval.

Twelve other counties have gotten special legislation to make the same change under the same conditions. This bill was passed by the Senate last year.