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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02271996 - C.36-39 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Costa February20 1996 s County Y. �4 DATE. INTRODUCE ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING THE SUBJECT: PROVISIONS OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 26945 IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY REGARDING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS COUNTY AUDITOR-CONTROLLER SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: INTRODUCE the attached Ordinance implementing the provisions of Government Code Section 26945, as amended by Chapter 107, Statutes of 1995, and Chapter 784, Statutes of 1995, in Contra Costa County, having to do with the qualifications of candidates for the Office of County Auditor-Controller, WAIVE reading of the Ordinance and FIX March 5, 1996 for adoption of the Ordinance. BACKGROUND: The Government Code currently specifies the minimum qualifications which must be met by an individual in order to run for or serve as County Auditor-Controller. Prior to January 1, 1996, these included: 0 Possession of a certificate from the State to practice as a certified public accountant or public accountant, or 0 Possession of a valid certificate or diploma of graduation from a school of accountancy, or 0 Has served as County Auditor or deputy county auditor for a period of not less than three years. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED FEBRUARY 27, 1996 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CC: See Page 2 SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR a BY �-AQA��-J DEPUTY No There are a number of problems with this language. There apparently is no such thing as a school of accountancy and if there were, this language provides no requirement that the school be accredited. "Deputy county auditor" is a term applied to most staff in the office of the Auditor-Controller. As a result, this section was amended in 1995 to provide for the following criteria, of which a candidate must meet at least one: Possession of a certificate from the State Board of Accountancy and a permit to practice as a certified public accountant or as a public accountant, or Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university, college or other four-year institution, with a major in accounting or its equivalent, or Possession of a certificate issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors showing the person to be a designated professional internal auditor, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent in accounting, auditing, or finance, or 10 The person has served as County Auditor, Chief Deputy County Auditor, or Chief Assistant County Auditor for a continuous period of not less than three years. These standards are higher than those which existed prior to January 1, 1996. The State law provides that these provisions become effective in a County only where, prior to the first day of the period for filing declarations of candidacy for the office of County Auditor, the Board of Supervisors by a unanimous vote, at a regular meeting with all members present, enacts an ordinance adopting these provisions. [Government Code Section 26946]. The County's current ordinance restates the previous provisions of Government Code Section 26945, rather than simply referencing the Government Code Section. Therefore, it is not clear that the new, higher standards are automatically effective in this County. The Auditor-Controller, Kenneth J. Corcoran, recommends that the Board of Supervisors implement these new, higher qualifications in Contra Costa County. As a result, the County Counsel has drafted an Ordinance which simply references the provisions of Government Code Section 26945 and provides that no person shall be elected or appointed to the office of County Auditor-Controller unless the person meets at least one of the criteria in Government Code Section 26945. Thus, the new provisions of the Code will be applicable in this County, as will any future changes to Government Code Section 26945. In order to accomplish this change, it is recommended that the attached Ordinance be introduced, that reading be waived, and that the Ordinance be set for adoption on March 5, 1996. cc: County Administrator Auditor-Controller County Counsel County Clerk-Recorder Assistant County Registrar of Voters -2- C .310 ORDINANCE NO. 96- 7 (County Auditor Qualifications) The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ordains as follows (omitting the parenthetical footnotes from the official text from the enacted or amended provisions of the County Ordinance Code). SECTION 1. Section 24-8.002 of the Contra Costa County Ordinance Code is amended, to continue the adoption of the provisions of Article 4 (commencing with Section 26945) of Chapter 4 of the Government Code, to read as follows: 24-8.802 Qualifications. No person shall hereafter be elected or appointed to the office of county auditor-controller unless the person meets at least one of the criteria specked in Government Code section 26945. (Ords. 96-_J, 1188: prior code § 2140.) SECTION II, EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after passage, and within 15 days of passage shall be published once with the names of supervisors voting for and against it in the CONTRA COSTA TIMES a newspaper published in this County. PASSED on March 5. 1996 with all Supervisors present by the following unanimous vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By: Deputy Clerk Board Chair [SEAL] K OF0711 OMAEGION-000 ORDINANCE NO. 96- 7 -1- Office of C . 3(0 COUNTY AUDITOR-CONTROLLER Contra Costa County Martinez, California November 1, 1995 TO: C. L. Van Marter, Assistant County Administrator FROM: Kenneth J. Corcoran, Auditor-Controller SUBJECT: Board of Supervisors Needs to Consider Enacting an Ordinance to Implement Revised Qualifications for County Auditor Thank you f6r your memo of October 30, 1995, which discussed changes and new requirements resulting from the passage of SB 564 and SB 866. You correctly noted that, effective January 1, 1996, Government Code §26945 will include new qualifications for persons elected or appointed as County Auditor. However, I believe that existing §26946 was not affected by the new legislation. As I read it, the new qualifications only become operative if the Board, pursuant to §26946, enacts an ordinance adopting the qualifications specified in §26945. If my assessment is correct, your office may want to recommend that the Board adopt the qualifications of the revised §26945. I would certainly support such an action. KJC:pm AC95-77 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECEIVED NOV 21995 .r Cs , ,,,,TOTT) 57 24-8.002-2414.002 ADMINISTRATION i iJ Chapter 24-8 Chapter 24-12 CA ' AUDITOR —CONTROLLER* COUNTY COUNSEL* \ TM Sections: Sections: 24-8.002 Qualifications. 24-12.002 Appointment—Duties. 0 24-8.004 Claims payable immediately. 24-12.004 Represents public administrator. ij 24-8.002 Qualifications. No person shall herea er be elected or appointed to the office 2412.002 Apointment — Duties. T1ye of county auditor-controller unless: of county counsel is established. The c _ (1) He possesses a valid certificate issued by supervisors shall appoint the county co �4 the California State Board of Accountancy, fix his salary; and his tenure and duties under the provisions of Chapter 1, Division 3 of as provided by state law and by the board; the Business and Professions Code of the state, 69-39 § 1, 1969: prior code § 2197). showing him to be,and a permit authorizing him to practice as, a certified public accountant or a 2412.004 Represents public adm' 10 public accountant;or � The county counsel shall act as attorney (2) He possesses a valid certificate or diploma public administrator in all estates in w ' of graduation from a school of accountancy; or executor, administrator with the will (3) He has served as county auditor or as or administrator. In such matters he shaft deputy county auditor for a continuous period the attorney's fees allowed by law and P11 not less than three years. (Prior code § 2140: into the county treasury. (Ord. 69-63§1} Ord. 1188). prior code § 2197.2). z 24-8.004 Claims payable immediately. The three-day waiting period in Government Code Chapter 24-14 Section 29742 shall not apply to any claims pay- able by the auditor thereunder. (Ord. 80-13: DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, Bd. Resol. No. 79/1268). PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR Sections: Chapter 2410 24-14.002 Consolidation of off TREASURER —TAX COLLECTOR** 24-14.002 Consolidation of off Sections: office of public administrator is separa 24-10.002 Consolidation of offices. the office of coroner and is conso' the office of the district attorney, P 24-10.002 Consolidation of offices. The of- Government Code Sections 24300 all fices of county treasurer and county tax (Ord. 68-59 § 2, 1968; Ord. 68-45 $ collector are consolidated under the provisions prior code § 2170: Ord. 1192). of Section 24300 of the Government Code of the state. (Prior code § 2150: Ord. 631}, ! *For the statutory provisions regarding the duties of the county controller,see Gov.C. § 26880 ff;for the provisions / regarding the duties of the county auditor, see Gov. C. § *For the statutory provisions regarding the ofd - 26900 ff; for the provisions regarding the qualifications for counsel,see Gov.C.§27640 ff. office of county auditor,see Gov.C.§§26945 and 26946. **For the statutory provisions regarding theA. **For the statutory provisions regarding the office of county administrator, see Gov. C. § 27440 t fO treasurer,see Gov. C. § 27000 ff;for the provisions regarding regarding the office of district attorney, the office of tax collector,see Gov.C. §27400 ff. fr• '0 (Contra Costa County 4-82) To" § 26945 COUNTIES—OFFICERS Title 3 § 26945. Requisites No person shall hereafter be elected or appointed to the office of county auditor of any county unless: (a) He possesses a valid certificate issued by the California State Board of Accountancy under the provisions of Chapter 1, Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code showing him to be, and a permit authorizing him to practice as, a certified public accountant or as a public accountant; or (b) He possesses a valid certificate or diploma of graduation from a school of accountancy; or (c) He has served as county auditor or as deputy county auditor for a continuous period of not less than three years. This section shall not apply to any person duly elected or appointed as a county auditor and actually serving as such officer on the effective date of this section, and such person shall be deemed to be eligible to hold, and to be re-elected to, said office notwithstanding the provisions of this section. (Added by Stats.1957, c. 1543, p. 2904, § 1.) Forms See West's California Code Forms, Government. Library References Counties e-64. U.S. Counties § 102 et seq. § 26946. Effective date of article; ordinance adopting article The provisions of this article shall become effective in only those counties in which, prior to the first day of the period for filing declarations of candidacy for the office of county auditor, the board of supervisors by a unanimous vote, at a regular meeting with all members present, enact an ordinance adopting the provisions of this article. The ordinance so adopted may be repealed by the board of supervisors at any time. (Added by Stats.1957, c. 1543, p. 2904, § 1.) Chapter 4.5 DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Section 26970. Submission of question of replacement of office of county auditor to electors. 26971. Appointment of director; removal and suspension. 26972. Duties. Chapter 4.5 was added by Stats.1959, c. 1906, p. 4477, § 1. 150 C 3�0 4ENT CODE GOVERNMENT CODE § 26945 Chapter 3.5 CONTROLLER Section 26883. Audits and filing reports therefrom; reim- bursement of costs. § 26883. Audits and filing reports therefrom; reimbursement of costs In addition to the power now possessed by the board of supervisors to enter into contracts for audits i the board shall have the power to require that the county auditor-controller shall audit the accounts and records of any department, office, board or institution under its control and of any district whose funds are kept in the county treasury. The county auditor-controller's report on any such audit shall be filed with the board of supervisors and, if the report discloses fraud or gross negligence a copy thereof shall be filed with the district attorney. ;raphe discussing The governing body of any district may agree with the board of sup ervisors to reimburse the county for its actual cost of any audit of its accounts and records had under this.section. f nullity; pay- (Amended by Stats.1991, c..1090 (A.13.1484), § 16.) Chapter 4 AUDITOR Article 4 QUALIFICATIONS FOR, OFFICE Section uant to Section 26945. Requisites:: . titv § 26945. Requisites No person shall hereafter be elected or appointed-to the.office of county auditor of any county unless the person meets at least one of the following criteria: .Comm:Reports. (a) *.* * The person possesses a valid certificate issued by the California State.Board of Accountancy under. * * *..Chapter 1 * * * (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 3 of the Business and - Professions Code showing * * * the person to be, and a permit authorizing * * * the person to practice as, a certified public accountant or as a public accountant *. * *_ dollar, ($1) for automating the (b) The person possesses a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university, college, or other four- ie county clerk year institution,-with a major in accounting or its equivalent, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5081.1 of the Business and Professions Code. lollars ($3) if it (c) The person possesses a certificate issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors showing the person to derived from to be a designated professional internal auditor, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their id justice court equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance. oth. * * *(d) The person has served as county auditor * * *, chief deputy county auditor, or chief assistant therefor, the county auditor for a continuous period of not less than three years. * * * (Amended by Stats.1995, c. 107 (A.B.1087), § 1; Stats.1995, c. 784 (S.B.866), § 1.) Historical and Statutory Notes 1995 Legislation by Stats.1994, c. Section affected by two or more acts at the same on TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: VICTOR J. WESTMAN, COUNTY COUNSEL DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 1996 SUBJECT: UNIFORM LOCAL TAX CLAIM PROCEDURES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Introduce ordinance to establish uniform local tax claim procedures , waive reading of the ordinance text and fix March 5, 1996 for adoption. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Government Code § 905 has been construed by the California Supreme Court to require that refund claims for most local taxes must be filed within one year of their payment . (Volkswagen Pacific, Inc . v. City of Los Angeles, 7 Cal . 3d 48 ) . Presently, the Ordinance Code provides different claim filing period procedures . The adoption of the proposed ordinance would establish a uniform one year claim filing period for local County taxes where a different period is not mandated by state statutes . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _ YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON February 27, 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED FEBRUARY 275, 1996 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR .11 BY .�L� DEPUTY CONTACT: County Counsel , 335-1818 ` cc: Treasurer - Tax Collector Auditor - Controller County Administrator ORDINANCE NO. 96- 5 (On Uniform Local Tax Refund Claim Procedures) The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ordains as follows (omitting the parenthetical footnotes from the official text from the enacted or amended provisions of the County Ordinance Code). SECTION I. Section 64-4.804 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read: 64-4.804 Refund Claim. Whenever the amount of any tax, interest or penalty has been overpaid or paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the county under this chapter it may be refunded as provided in Sections 64-4.806 and 64-4.808, provided a claim in writing therefor, stating under penalty of perjury the specific grounds upon which the claim is founded, is filed with the tax administrator within one year of the date of payment. The claim shall be on forms furnished by the tax administrator. (Ords. 96- 5 §1, 1891: prior code § 2530.11(a).) SECTION 11. Section 64-10.510 is added to the County Ordinance Code to read as follows: 64-10.510 Refund Claim. Whenever the amount of any tax, penalty or interest has been paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the county under this chapter it may be refunded provided a verified claim in writing therefor, stating the specific grounds upon which said claim is founded, is filed with the tax collector within one year from the date of payment. The claim shall be audited by the tax collector and shall be made in accordance with current county refund procedures. If the claim is approved, the refund may be refunded or may be credited on any amounts then due and payable from the person from whom it was collected or by whom paid, and the balance may be refunded to such person or to his/her administrators or executors. (Ord. 96-5 §2.) SECTION III. Section 64-12.208 is added to the County Ordinance Code to read as follows: 64-12.208 Refund Claim. Whenever the amount of any tax, penalty or interest has been paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the county under this chapter, it may be refunded provided a verified claim in writing therefor, stating the specific grounds upon which said claim is founded, is filed with the tax collector within one year from the date of payment. The claim shall be audited by the tax collector and shall be made in accordance with current county refund ORDINANCE NO. 96- 5 -1- 0 . 3-7 procedures. If the claim is approved, the refund may be refunded or may be credited on any amounts then due and payable from the person from whom it was collected or by whom paid, and the balance may be refunded to such person or to his/her administrators or executors. (Ord. 96-5 §3.) SECTION IV. Section 64-14.1010 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read: 64-14.1010 Refund Claim. Whenever the amount of any tax, penalty or interest has been paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the county under this chapter, it may be refunded provided a verified claim in writing therefor, stating the specific grounds upon which said claim is founded, is filed with the tax collector within one year from the date of payment. The claim shall be audited by the tax collector and shall be made in accordance with current county refund procedures. If the claim is approved, the refund may be refunded or may be credited on any amounts then due and payable from the person from whom it was collected or by whom paid, and the balance may be refunded to such person or to his/her administrators or executors. (Ord. 96-. 5 §4.) SECTION V. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after passage, and within 15 days of passage shall be published once with the names of supervisors voting for and against it in the -e-=c_ -Tamps a newspaper published in this County. PASSED on March 5, 1996 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By: Deputy Clerk Board Chair [SEAL] N:1DF0711D0CS\REFUND.0RD ORDINANCE NO. 96- -2- TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff Costa DATE: January 30, 1996 County SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF INCREASED FEES FOR CUSTODY ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)A BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RFCOMMENr)Fn ACTION Fix March 5, 1996, at 9:45 a.m., for a public hearing on increasing fees for the Custody Alternative Program by instituting a fingerprint verification fee and adopt the fee at the close of the hearing. II REASONS FOR RECOMMENDAnOAUBACKC410UND The costs related to the verification of an arrest by a fingerprint comparison are a legitimate part of the total cost to administer the Custody Alternative Program. The Custody Alternative Bureau processes approximately 4000 participants per year. The time needed for CIS to verify or establish an identification and update the arrest history for this number of participants is between 1300 and 1600 hours annually. In addition to the direct costs of providing this service, there are significant indirect costs. The fingerprint work generated by the Custody Alternative Program has resulted in CIS not being able to conduct fingerprint verifications of persons being arrested, cited, and released by the CAL-ID User Agencies. Also the cite and release fingerprints are not being added to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) data base. The fingerprint verification fee would allow hiring the Technicians necessary to do the Custody Alternative generated fingerprint work and a share of other CIS's tasks. CONTtNUED ON ATTACHMENT: -YES SIGNATURE: R -RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR -RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE -APPROVE -OTHER SIGNATUREM: ACTION OF BOARD ON February 27 , 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HERESY CERTIFY THAT THIS 13 A TRUE 2SUNANIMOUS(ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES- AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Sheriff/Coroner ATTESTED February 27 , 1996 County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF County Administrator SUPERVI RS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Criminal Justice-10th Floor By DEPUTY M3A2 110/RAI