First Meeting of the Year

Local government entities have specific responsibilities at the beginning of a new year.

At the first meeting of the year, city councils and county boards must designate the entity’s official newspaper. City councils must also elect an acting mayor to assume the mayor’s duties in the mayor’s absence or if the mayor becomes disabled. County boards must elect a chair and a vice-chair, unless the county has adopted either the at-large chair or the elected executive plan.

The first meeting of the year is also a good time to:

• Designate or re-designate official depositories for the entity’s funds;
• Make appointments to boards, commissions and committees;
• Approve bonds for officers and employees who need to be bonded;
• Review any expense reimbursement limits and mileage rates;
• Obtain the annual broker certification forms, if required; and
• Review fee schedules.

Date this Avoiding Pitfall was most recently published: 12/10/2021