WHAT ALL NEWLY- ELECTED LOCAL OFFICIALS NEED TO KNOW WHAT ALL NEWLY-ELECTED LOCAL OFFICIALS NEED TO KNOW Prepared by LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS 1820 West Washington Street Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 258-5786 www.azleague.org Rev. June 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRIMER ...................................................................1 A Philosophy of Government ..........................................................................................................1 Your City or Town Today................................................................................................................2 Policy vs. Administration.................................................................................................................2 Forewarned is Forearmed ................................................................................................................3 Teamwork is Essential .....................................................................................................................4 If You Don't Know, Don't Act .........................................................................................................5 Your Words are News ......................................................................................................................6 Your Time is Your Stock in Trade ..................................................................................................7 Avoiding the Appearance of Impropriety ........................................................................................8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER II. YOU AS AN ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICER ...................................................9 Qualifications for Office ..................................................................................................................9 Term of Office .................................................................................................................................9 Oath of Office ................................................................................................................................10 Official Bond .................................................................................................................................10 Conflict of Interest .........................................................................................................................10 Incompatibility of Offices ..............................................................................................................11 Financial Disclosure.......................................................................................................................12 Nepotism ........................................................................................................................................12 Municipal and Personal Liability ...................................................................................................13 Duties of the Mayor .......................................................................................................................14 Compensation ................................................................................................................................15 Recall .............................................................................................................................................15 Vacancies in Office ........................................................................................................................16 CHAPTER III. THE JOB OF THE COUNCIL .......................................................................18 Council Meetings ...........................................................................................................................18 Open Meeting Law ........................................................................................................................22 The Council's Law Making Powers ...............................................................................................23 Powers of Appointment and Removal ...........................................................................................25 Election Powers and Duties ...........................................................................................................25 Joint Exercise of Powers ................................................................................................................26 Boards/Commissions and Committees ..........................................................................................26 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................27 CHAPTER IV. WHAT IS A CITY OR TOWN? .....................................................................28 Legal Standing of Municipal Governments ...................................................................................28 City/Town Organization ................................................................................................................30 General Law vs. Charter Government ...........................................................................................31 Charter Government.......................................................................................................................31 Local Options for General Law Cities and Towns ........................................................................33 Courts .............................................................................................................................................35 Municipal Annexation of Property ................................................................................................35 Financing Local Government ........................................................................................................36 The Budget .....................................................................................................................................38 Municipal Indebtedness .................................................................................................................39 Audits .............................................................................................................................................41 Public Employees...........................................................................................................................41 Planning for the Future ..................................................................................................................42 CHAPTER V. YOU AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD ..............................................................44 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................44 Regional Councils of Governments ...............................................................................................44 What Does a COG Do? ..................................................................................................................45 County Government .......................................................................................................................46 State Government...........................................................................................................................47 Federal Government.......................................................................................................................48 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................48 FOREWORD Congratulations on your election to office! Your decision to serve your community as a mayor or councilmember gives you a crucial role in determining the present and future course of your community. Your election also designates you as a public officer with legal restraints as well as powers and responsibilities. This handbook has been prepared to provide an overview of the major functions of your job as a locally elected official. If you've just been elected, the information contained within these covers may serve as a crash course in what your office is and how local government works. This 2018 edition is a revision of the eight previous editions of the handbook. The information in this edition reflects changes in state law since publication of the last edition. We hope this handbook will provide you with helpful information in performing your duties as a mayor or councilmember. Any comments or suggestions for this publication will be greatly appreciated. CHAPTER I LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRIMER The campaign is over and you emerge victorious. Now that you’ve been elected, what are some of the things you need to know to be successful as a local elected official in Arizona? This document will outline the key functions of your role as a mayor or councilmember. Since you’ve been elected, you may have already come to the conclusion that becoming a good policy official is largely dependent on remaining in office long enough to master the responsibilities and duties of your job. For the newly elected mayor or councilmember, survival is indeed an issue. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to discuss the basics of political survival for a locally elected official and