Measure A

Sacramento Mayoral Accountability and Community Equity Act

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CITY OF SACRAMENTO—Would amend the City of Sacramento charter to establish a mayor-council form of government; establish participatory budgeting for citizens’ direct input; require analysis of impacts of certain council decisions on racial, ethnic, LGBTQ, and gender groups; require a specified portion of the budget be invested in inclusive economic development and youth services; and make permanent the city’s ethics commission. Measure A requires a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass.

Fiscal Impact: No fiscal impact for Measure A has been submitted.

Next Sacramento County Measure: Measure B

See Endorsements for Measure A

Details

Pro/Con
Pro: 

Proponents of Measure A argue that Sacramento needs an accountable leader who is empowered to act in times of emergency, who has the ability to implement reforms when change is needed, and who can fight for budget priorities that advance equity and economic progress.

A YES vote on this measure means: The Sacramento City Charter would be revised to make the changes included in this measure.

YesOnSacMeasureA.com (Campaign Website)

Con: 

Opponents of Measure A argue that it would be a fundamental change to the city government that would give the Mayor more power and weaken the voice of neighborhoods and Councilmembers, resulting in citizens that would have less involvement in decisions that directly affect their lives.

A NO vote on this measure means: The Sacramento City Charter would not be revised.

NoWayMeasureA.com (Campaign Website)

In Depth
In Depth:

Measure A would amend the City of Sacramento’s Charter, the voter-approved “constitution” that establishes the framework for the city government, making a number of changes to the form of government and budgetary process, as follows.

Measure A would revise the city’s current council-manager form of government to a “mayor-council” form, as summarized:

Current Charter Measure A
Mayor is one of nine councilmembers

Mayor no longer a councilmember, but may attend and be heard at council meetings

Nine-member council with president and vice-president (eight members until 2022)
City manager is city’s chief executive officer

Mayor is chief executive officer

City manager is chief administrative officer
Council appoints city manager Mayor appoints city manager with council concurrence
Vote of six councilmembers required to remove city manager Mayor removes city manager; council has six-vote override if removal is without cause
No mayoral veto

Mayor can veto ordinances, with exceptions, subject to six-vote council override

Mayor can veto council’s approved budget (includes line-item veto), subject to six-vote council override
No term limits Mayor has two-term limit
City manager presents proposed budget to council Mayor presents proposed budget to council
Mayor appoints persons to boards and commissions, subject to council concurrence Council-adopted ordinance may set method of appointment; mayor may appoint representatives to outside agencies, subject to council concurrence

 

Measure A changes the charter’s budget provisions:

  • Currently, the city manager proposes the budget to council at least 60 days before the fiscal year; under Measure A, mayor proposes budget to council at least 90 days before fiscal year
  • Currently, council must hold at least one public hearing; Measure A requires at least two public hearings
  • New: Mayor may veto (including line-item veto) council-approved budget, subject to six-vote veto override
  • New: Must include some expenditures consistent with citywide participatory budgeting
  • New: Minimum of $40 million for “inclusive economic development and youth services” (at least 25% for youth services)

Measure A also requires the city to:

  • Analyze the social equity impacts and small business impacts of the city’s budget and major policy decisions
  • Adopt a Code of Ethics and Conduct for elected officials and appointed board/commission members
  • Adopt a Sunshine Ordinance
  • Develop a means to ensure responsiveness to constituents

Measure A requires the establishment of:

  • An Ethics Commission
  • A Fair Housing and Human Rights Commission

Lastly, Measure A requires the city council to place another measure on the ballot, no later than November 2030, for voters to consider returning the City to council-manager form of government that existed before the effective date of Measure A, re-approving the changes effectuated by Measure A, or proposing some alternative government structure.

Source: City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure A

Voter Resources

Official Resources

Sacramento County Elections Office

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