Fail: 4,319 / 41.79% Yes votes ...... 6,016 / 58.21% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Currently, the city treasurer is elected every four years as provided by state law. State law also establishes the qualifications for a city treasurer. State law requires that the person elected to this position be a registered voter and resident of the city.

The duties of the city treasurer, as provided by state law, include receiving and keeping all city money; complying with all laws governing the deposit and securing of government funds; handling city trust funds; paying out money only upon lawfully signed warrants; preparing monthly reports of all receipts, disbursements, and fund balances; and performing such additional duties as may be prescribed by city ordinance.

State law also provides that the City Council may place the question on the ballot of whether the city treasurer should be appointed by the City Council. If a majority of voters approve, this measure would make the office appointive and, upon the expiration of the current city treasurer's term or on a vacancy in the office, future city treasurers would be appointed by the City Council or by the City Manager, if the Council vests in the City Manager this responsibility.

If the voters approve making the office of city treasurer an appointed position, the City Council would have the opportunity to establish qualifications for the city treasurer and to appoint the person the Council found best qualified regardless of that person's place of residence. An appointed city treasurer would hold that position at the pleasure of the City Council. The duties of the city treasurer as fixed by state law would remain unchanged.

Ruthann G. Ziegler
City Attorney

The position of City Treasurer is not a "political" one and it has no policy making power. Rather, it is the responsibility of the City Treasurer, in conjunction with the Director of Finance, to insure that the fiduciary responsibilities of the city are met.

There is no guarantee that the candidates for the position possess the necessary qualifications to perform the duties. An appointed City Treasurer, however, would be selected based upon education and investment experience, and would be subject to annual evaluations and possible termination for unsatisfactory performance.

We the undersigned Mayor and City Treasurer feel this change is in the best interest of the citizens, and therefore endorse the appointment of a City Treasurer and encourage your yes vote on this measure to insure that the duties of the City Treasurer are performed by a finance professional selected based upon knowledge, education, training and qualifications.

The entire City Council supports this measure.
Nancy L. Parent,
Mayor of Pittsburg

James F. Holmes,
City Treasurer of Pittsburg

(No arguments against Measure O were submitted)