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1999 Washington Attorney General Reports and Opinions 1 (1999)

handle is hein.sag/sagwa0113 and id is 1 raw text is: Christine 0 GrC;eoire

Opinion

Attorney General of Washington

OFFICES AND OFFICERS - CITIES AND TOWNS - COMPENSATION - ELECTIONS
Application of prohibition on midterm increases in compensation to city councilmember elected
to unexpired term.
1.    A person who is elected to an unexpired term on a city council may not constitutionally
receive, during the unexpired term, any changes in compensation previously enacted by
the council during that term,
January 13, 1999

The Honorable Mary Margaret Haugen
State Senator, 10th District
Chair, Municipal Research Council
1200 5th Avenue, Suite 1300
Seattle, Washington 98101-1159

Cite As:
AGO 1999 No. 1

Dear Senator Haugen:
By letter previously acknowledged, you asked for our opinion on the following question:
Question:  The   state  constitution  prohibits  midterm  increases  in
compensation for elected municipal officers who set their own compensation.
If a person is elected to fill an unexpired term as a city councilmember, and
the compensation for the position had been increased earlier in that term, is
the newly elected councilmember eligible to receive the increase during the
remainder of the term?
BRIEF ANSWER
We answer this question in the negative. The state constitution prohibits a change in a
councilmember's compensation during the term in which the council amends the ordinance
setting compensation. The prohibition applies even to a person appointed or elected to complete
Atthrnev General of Washington
)ot Office Bo\ .40100
Olvmpia WA 98504-0100
Pihone: (360) 753-6200

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