La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 2.36 Finance Department

In order to establish a central agency for the uniform processing and development of all fiscal, accounting, licensing and budgetary functions within the city government, there is hereby established a department of finance.

(Ord. 1265; October 10, 1961)

The office of director of finance is hereby created and established as the head of the finance department of the city. The director of finance should be the chief accounting officer of the city of La Mesa and shall consolidate all accounting matters of the city in this office, as an entirely separate and distinct entity from all other departments.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The director of finance shall be qualified by sufficient professional and technical accounting training, skill, and experience. He shall show evidence of public administration training and executive ability.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

This office shall be appointive; the director of finance shall be appointed by the city manager.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The director of finance shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be approved by the city council, in such sum as may be determined by the city council and shall be conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties imposed on the director of finance as herein described, provided that such bond shall be at least equal to the bond required of the city clerk under the provisions of government code Section 36518. The cost of securing such bond shall be a proper charge upon the city of La Mesa.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The city finance director shall receive such compensation as the city council shall from time to time determine and fix by budget or resolution, and said compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the city council shall designate.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

Residence in the city of La Mesa shall not be deemed a necessary qualification for appointment to this office.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

Should the director of finance be absent or disabled, the city manager shall designate a temporary acting director of finance.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The director of finance, as chief fiscal officer of the city under the direction and control of the city manager, shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all fiscal and accounting functions of the city. All of the duties, responsibilities and authority imposed upon the city clerk as chief accounting officer for the city are hereby transferred to and imposed upon the director of finance.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The director of finance shall be vested and charged with the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) To assist and advise the city manager and city council in all matters pertaining to city finances.

(b) To supervise and control all personnel in the finance office.

(c) To maintain and operate the general accounting system of the city and of each of the respective departments, divisions and services thereof; he shall prescribe the accounting and bookkeeping procedure that may now or hereafter be established or in operation in any department.

(d) To perform such accounting functions and duties in accordance with the latest and most modern accounting methods as the science of accounting progresses.

(e) To supervise the keeping of current inventories of all property of the city by all city departments, offices and agencies.

(f) To assume, maintain and perform all functions and duties as the city council may now or hereafter prescribe by ordinance relating to the administration of taxes, licenses, and permit fees levied or charged by the city and for the collection thereof.

(g) To assume and perform all municipal functions and duties relating to the preparation, preauditing, presenting, and disbursement of claims, warrants, invoices, payrolls, demands or other charges against the city government and with the advice of the city attorney when necessary, determine the regularity, legality and correctness of such claims, demands or charges to insure the budget appropriations are not exceeded.

(h) To assist in the purchase of all services, supplies, goods, wares, merchandise, equipment and material which may be required by the city.

(i) To assist in the preparation of the annual budget and in the administration thereof as the city manager may direct.

(j) To perform cost accounting as directed by the city manager.

(k) To assist the city manager and the city council in formulating a long range financial plan and program.

(l) To develop and prescribe forms and procedures of all other departments which pertain to revenue, receipts or expenditures in any manner.

(m) To have the right to audit the accounting functions performed by all other departments and divisions of the city.

(n) To prepare financial statements and statistical reports; submit to the city council, through the city manager a monthly statement of all receipts and disbursements in sufficient detail to show the exact financial condition of the city; and, as of the end of each fiscal year, submit a complete financial statement and report.

(o) To perform such additional duties and functions as may be hereafter prescribed or required by the city council or the city manager.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)

The director of finance shall perform all the financial and accounting duties heretofore imposed upon the city clerk, and the city clerk shall be, and he hereby is, relieved of all such duties, including all such duties imposed upon the city clerk by Article 1 of Chapter 4, Part 2, Division 3, Title 4 and by Sections 40802 through 40805.5 inclusive of the government code of the state of California.

(Ord. 1265 (part); October 10, 1961)