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Galt council votes to put measure on Nov. 2026 ballot to make treasurer and clerk appointed
Summary
After a staff presentation arguing the roles are increasingly technical, the council voted 4–0 to place a measure on the November 2026 ballot asking whether the city treasurer and clerk should change from elected to appointed positions; a motion to designate a council member to file a pro-argument failed.
The Galt City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether the city treasurer and city clerk positions should transition from elected offices to appointed ones. Assistant City Manager Amy Mendez said the change is about governance and professional qualifications — not current officeholders — noting that the city treasurer oversees more than $168,000,000 in public funds and that both positions have become more technical. "These duties are critical to managing public trust and legal compliance," Mendez said.
Council members discussed precedent in neighboring cities, the need for community education, and whether the council should designate a member to prepare and sign a pro-argument for the voter pamphlet. Staff and the city attorney explained that the resolution sent to the county must be clear and that any council member must be formally designated to submit an argument; a later motion to designate Council member Farmer to prepare the council's argument failed because it did not receive the required majority. The measure, if approved by voters, would take effect at the expiration of the current terms in November 2028 or if an office becomes vacant before then.
