Part I. The Charter.  [Note]

   *Editor’s note—The current County Charter was adopted at an election held Nov. 5, 1968, and, as indicated by history notes accompanying amended sections, was amended by subsequent elections. The County’s first Charter was adopted in 1948.

   In the November 3, 2020, election, the voters approved Question C, which amended the Charter by (1) increasing the number of Councilmembers from 9 to 11, (2) increasing the number of Council districts from 5 to 7, (3) providing for the election of 7 Councilmembers by district and 4 Councilmembers at large, and (4) making several corresponding changes to voting requirements throughout the Charter. Pursuant to Charter Section 513, these amendments, which are reflected in Council Resolution 19-581 (Aug. 4, 2020), apply to the Councilmembers who were elected on November 8, 2022.

Article 1. Legislative Branch.

§ 101. County Council.

§ 102. Composition and Election.

§ 103. Council Districts.

§ 104. Redistricting Procedure.

§ 105. Term of Office.

§ 106. Vacancies.

§ 107. Compensation.

§ 108. Officers of the Council.

§ 109. Sessions.

§ 110. Exercise of Zoning, Planning and Other Powers.

§ 111. Enactment of Legislation.

§ 112. Effective Date of Legislation.

§ 113. Publication of Legislation.

§ 114. Referendum.

§ 115. Referendum Procedure.

§ 116. Legislative Procedure.

§ 117. Limitations.

§ 118. Removal of Councilmembers.

Article 2. Executive Branch.

§ 201. Executive Power.

§ 202. Election and Term of Office.

§ 203. Qualifications.

§ 204. Compensation.

§ 205. Vacancy.

§ 206. Removal of the County Executive.

§ 207. Temporary Absence or Disability.

§ 208. Veto.

§ 209. Information on Executive Branch.

§ 210. Chief Administrative Officer.

§ 211. Duties of the Chief Administrative Officer.

§ 212. Principal Departments.

§ 213. County Attorney.

§ 214. Department of Finance.

§ 215. Appointments.

§ 216. Appointment of Other Employees of the Executive Branch.

§ 217. Reorganization of the Executive Branch.

§ 218. Internal Audit.

Article 3. Finance.

§ 301. Fiscal Year.

§ 302. Six-Year Programs for Public Services, Capital Improvements, and Fiscal Policy.

§ 303. Capital and Operating Budgets.

§ 304. Budget Hearing.

§ 305. Approval of the Budget; Tax Levies.

§ 306. Item Veto or Reduction.

§ 307. Supplemental Appropriations.

§ 308. Special Appropriations.

§ 309. Transfer of Funds.

§ 310. Surplus.

§ 311. Limitations on Expenditures.

§ 312. Indebtedness.

§ 313. Purchasing.

§ 314. Competitive Procurement.

§ 315. Audit.

§ 316. Public Access to Fiscal Documents.

Article 4. Merit System and Conflicts of Interest.

§ 401. Merit System.

§ 402. Personnel Administration.

§ 403. Merit System Protection Board.

§ 404. Duties of the Merit System Protection Board.

§ 405. Political Activity.

§ 406. Prohibition Against Private Use of Public Employees.

§ 407. Prohibition Against Additional Compensation.

§ 408. Work During Official Hours.

§ 409. Corrupt Practices.

§ 410. Code of Ethics.

§ 411. Reserved.

Article 5. General Provisions.

§ 501. Disaster—Continuity of Government During Emergencies.

§ 502. Annual Report.

§ 503. Annual Compilation of Laws.

§ 504. County Code.

§ 505. Right to Information.

§ 506. Separability.

§ 507. Amendment.

§ 508. Effective Date.

§ 509. Charter Review Commission.

§ 510. Collective Bargaining.

§ 510A. Collective Bargaining—Fire Fighters.

§ 511. Collective Bargaining—County Employees.

§ 512. Hearing Examiners.

§ 513. Effect of Certain Amendments.

 

Notes

[Note]

*Editor's note—The current County Charter was adopted at an election held Nov. 5, 1968, and, as indicated by history notes accompanying amended sections, was amended by subsequent elections. The County's first Charter was adopted in 1948    In the November 3, 2020, election, the voters approved Question C, which amended the Charter by (1) increasing the number of Councilmembers from 9 to 11, (2) increasing the number of Council districts from 5 to 7, (3) providing for the election of 7 Councilmembers by district and 4 Councilmembers at large, and (4) making several corresponding changes to voting requirements throughout the Charter. Pursuant to Charter Section 513, these amendments, which are reflected in Council Resolution 19-581 (Aug. 4, 2020), will initially apply to the Councilmembers elected at the next election, on November 8, 2022.