There is in the government of the county of Placer the position of county executive. The county executive is the chief administrative officer of the county.
(Prior code § 2.300)
The county executive shall have such a background of education and experience that he or she will have a general knowledge of public or business administration and particular knowledge of budgeting, personnel, and purchasing procedures. The county executive shall hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. He or she shall be appointed by a majority of the board of supervisors. He or she shall serve at the pleasure of the board and may be removed by a three-fifths vote of the entire board at any regular meeting of the board; provided, however, that he or she shall be entitled to receive 30 days' termination pay from and after the date of the formal action of the board of supervisors terminating him or her.
The county executive shall not engage in any other business.
(Prior code § 2.305; Ord. 6336-B, 8/19/2025)
The salary of the county executive shall be established annually by the board by resolution. The county executive is a county officer. The salary shall be paid biweekly by the auditor in the same manner as the salaries of other county employees are paid. The county executive is granted and is entitled to all of the benefits conferred upon county employees relating to sick leave, vacation, mileage and travel expenses and holidays and by the County Employees Retirement Act.
(Prior code § 2.310)
The county executive is responsible for the proper and efficient administration of all governmental affairs of the county which legally may be placed in his or her charge or under his or her control. He or she shall attend all meetings of the board, except when excused therefrom. He or she shall prepare matters for the board's consideration, and advise and make recommendations to the board on such matters brought before it as are within his or her authority. He or she shall supervise and direct the enforcement and execution of orders and directives of the board of supervisors which it has the power to apply to county offices, departments, and institutions, whether elective or appointive.
(Prior code § 2.315)
Without limiting the foregoing grant and delegation of powers, duties and responsibilities, the county executive has the authority and is required to.
A.
Supervise and direct the preparation of the annual county budget. In the performance of this duty the county executive shall review and evaluate all departmental requests and all items in the proposed budget including expenditures, revenues and reserves. He or she shall submit the proposed budget to the board, together with his or her written report and recommendation.
B.
Scrutinize continuously the final budget adopted by the board and departmental expenditures to assure that throughout the fiscal year such expenditures are necessary and proper. Requests for transfers or revisions of appropriations shall be referred to the county executive who shall refer such requests to the board with recommendations, except that transfers or revisions within an appropriation shall be approved or disapproved by the county executive without referral to the board.
C.
The county executive shall supervise the purchasing agent in all administrative matters, subject to direction from the board of supervisors.
D.
The county executive shall also be the director of emergency services of the county.
E.
The county executive officer shall be the authorized agent of the board of supervisors in matters involving employee relations. In the event the board deems it necessary or desirable to form committees or special groups to study, consider, plan, advise or otherwise handle employee relations otherwise not within the scope of the authority of the civil service commission the county executive shall exercise full administrative authority for the board.
F.
Study and make recommendations to the board concerning existing personnel conditions or any request by an official or department of the county for additional personnel or any change in the classification or salary of any county employee, officer or official.
G.
Annually review and grade the performance of the duties of all department heads appointed by the board in the same manner as other county employees are rated.
H.
The county executive shall represent the county in its intergovernmental relations.
I.
Review and approve/disapprove all requests for out-of-county travel requiring approval of the board of supervisors and make recommendations concerning out-of-state travel requests to the board of supervisors.
J.
Examine, interview and grade all applicants for positions for which appointments are made by the board of supervisors and make recommendations thereon to the board.
K.
Perform such investigations, studies or surveys as the board may designate or that the county executive may deem necessary.
L.
Periodically report to the board concerning the financial condition and needs of county government.
M.
Supervise and direct the preparation of long range plans for management of county property and the construction and alteration of physical facilities necessary to render county services.
N.
Recommend a long-term plan of capital improvements accompanied by pertinent financial data and recommendations as to methods of financing.
O.
Recommend to the board such transfer, re-assignments or consolidations of county government functions and services as in his or her opinion are necessary and proper.
P.
Supervise and direct the preparation and maintenance of a county administrative code which sets forth policies and procedures of the board regarding the administrative affairs of the county, including the procedure for review of departmental matters by the county executive prior to the submission of such matters to the board, and it shall be the duty of the county executive to compel compliance therewith by all department heads, officers and employees of the county.
Q.
In coordination with the director, community development/resource agency, prepare and present to the board such plans and proposals as in the county executive's judgment are necessary for the solution of problems created by development and growth of the county.
R.
Supervise and direct the annual outside audit of Placer County financial records.
(Prior code § 2.320; Ord. 5373-B, 2005; Ord. 5398-B § 1, 2006)
To assist in carrying out the powers and duties herein vested in the county executive and the office, and to the extent permitted by Sections 2.16.080 and 2.16.100, such officer or authorized members of such department may enter any county department and investigate the operation thereof with respect to the efficiency and economy of the administrative procedures thereof and may recommend to the department head any action relating to the use of personnel, equipment, facilities or budgetary expenditures, and may recommend, subject to civil service requirements, the disciplining, including suspension or discharge of any employee. In the event the department head fails to forthwith comply with such recommendation and to the extent permitted by Sections 2.16.080 and 2.16.100, the county executive may issue a written directive to such department head requiring the department head to comply therewith. Any department head dissatisfied with such written directive may appeal the same to the board of supervisors and be heard thereon. Unless the directive is annulled or modified by the board of supervisors, and subject to the provisions of Section 2.16.080, the department head shall forthwith comply therewith, and if modified, shall comply with such modified directive. If the department head then fails to comply with such lawful directive the county executive shall report such fact to the board of supervisors with his or her recommendation as to action, if any, which the board of supervisors should take. In the case of appointive department heads, a failure to comply with a lawful order of the county executive and board of supervisors shall be deemed such malfeasance and misconduct as to warrant, in a proper case, a recommendation for dismissal.
(Prior code § 2.325)
It shall be the duty of each department head upon the request of the county executive or a member of his or her department to provide any nonprivileged record or other information relating to the administrative operation of such department and to otherwise cooperate with the county executive and his or her department in the investigation of the administrative operation of such department. It shall be the duty of each department head, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16.080, to forthwith comply with any written directive of the county executive relating to the use of personnel, equipment or facilities of such office or other administrative procedures relating thereto. It shall be the duty of each department head to channel all requests to the board of supervisors through the office of the county executive, which shall present the same to the board of supervisors with its recommendations thereon. In the event the recommendation is adverse to the request, the department head making the same shall be notified thereof and of the time when the same will be presented to the board of supervisors, and he or she may either withdraw the request prior to its presentation to the board or he or she may appear before the board and be heard thereon.
(Prior code § 2.330; Ord. 5006-B, 1999)
No provision of this article is intended to vest in the county executive or the county executive office and duty, prerogative or discretion now conferred by law upon any other officer of the county and it shall not be so construed. It is the intent of the board of supervisors only to establish a county executive and county executive office and prescribe the prerogatives, duties, powers, responsibilities and functions thereof, in order to assure a high degree of efficiency and economy in the purely administrative operation of the government of Placer County.
(Prior code § 2.335)
In the performance of the duties and responsibilities designated herein the county executive, with the approval of the board, may retain the services of such consultants, experts or advisors as he or she deems necessary.
(Prior code § 2.340)
The county executive shall have such personnel, equipment, and services as may be provided by the board of supervisors.
(Prior code § 2.345)
No limitation of the authority and powers of the county executive shall be implied from any omission in this article to delegate expressly to the county executive any authority, duty or function.
(Prior code § 2.350)