FOREWORD

“Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered.”

- Aristotle.

The story of San Bernardino County's Charter before 1913 was the campaign for its adoption. The story after 1913 has been one of campaigns for its amendment.

The Charter was framed and adopted in accordance with provisions of Section 7 1/2 of Article XI of the Constitution of California. A board of fifteen freeholders was selected at a special election held May 14, 1912. Drawn up by this board, the Charter was presented to the County electors November 5, 1912. A majority favored adoption. Both houses of the State Legislature voted approval and the Charter was filed with the Secretary of State, April 7, 1913.

Since that time, 36 amendments to the original Charter have been proposed and 27 have been adopted by the voters. Those amendments which have been adopted are:

1. Approved by the Legislature January 30, 1915; published on Page 1726, Statutes and Amendments to the Codes, 1915; election of officers other than Supervisors.

2. Approved March 24, 1919; published on Page 1454, Statutes and Amendments to the Codes, 1919; addition of Article 2 1/2.

3. Approved January 29, 1923; published on Page 1294, Statutes and Amendments to the Codes, 1923; salary of Sheriff fixed.

5. Approved January 27, 1925; published on Page 1185, Statutes and Amendments to the Codes, 1925; traffic officers.

6. Approved January 18, 1927; copied in this book from a copy certified by the Secretary of State and filed in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of this County; salaries fixed by Supervisors.

7. Approved January 6, 1943; amends Article I, Sections 1 and 2, election of Supervisors by district, rather than County-wide balloting.

8. Approved January 15, 1945; amends Article I, Section 10; provides salaries of Supervisors to be fixed by legislature.

9. Approved January 15, 1945; amends Article Ill, Section 1, provides number of officers in Class A Justice Court fixed by general law.

10. Approved January 15, 1945; amends Article VIE, Section 1, Supervisors may suspend provision prohibiting wartime raise in compensation for elective officers.

12. Approved January 25, 1957 amends Article II, Section 9; establishes office of County Counsel.

13. Approved January 25, 1957; amends Article II, Section 10; establishes office of Registrar of Voters.

17. Approved January 25, 1957; amends Article V, Section 2; provides filing of reports by County officers.

18. Approved January 25, 1957; amends Article V, Section 6; provides inspection of books of County and Judicial District Officers by Auditor.

19. Approved January 25, 1957; amends Article VII, Section 1; fixes compensation of elective officers.

20. Approved January 25, 1957; amends Article VII, Section 3; provides biweekly salary payment.

21. Approved January 25, 1957; adds Section 6 to Article 2 1/2; establishes County Board of Education.

22. Approved February 19, 1959; amends Section I to Article IV; establishes office of County Purchasing Agent.

23. Approved February 19, 1959; adds Section 4 1/2 to Article VII; provides for establishment of fixed benefit retirement system for employees ineligible for federal insurance.

24. Approved February 8, 1967; amends Article V relating to reports and accounts.

25. Approved March 15, 1971; amends Articles I, II, Ill, IV, and VII, and repeals Articles 2 1/2 and VI to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary language and renumber Charter provisions.

26. Approved March 15, 1971; adds Section 1.1 to Article II and repeals Sections 9 and 10 of Article II and Article IV to place all County department heads in the Unclassified Service.

28. Filed and operative December 26, 1974; repeals Section 6 of Article I and Sections 1 and 5 of Article VI, to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary language and bring Charter into conformity with the California Constitution.

29. Filed and operative December 26, 1974; repeals Section 1.1 of Article II and amends Sections 2, 5, and 10 of Article II to bring Charter into conformity with California Constitution and reflect and provide greater flexibility in the governmental structure and administration of the County.

30. Filed and operative May 2, 1979; adds Section 9 to Article I to provide procedures for and limitations on setting of salaries for supervisors. (Repealed by Amendment 36, filed and operative November 18, 1985).

31. Filed and operative May 2, 1979; adds an unnumbered section to Article VI (Miscellaneous) requiring any increase in compensation of county-elected officers to be approved by the voters. Initiative amendment. (Repealed by Amendment 36, filed and operative November 18, 1985).

33. Filed and operative November 16, 1981; adds Section 3A to Article II to make office of County Clerk appointive rather than elective.

36. Filed and operative November 18, 1985; adds Section I to Article VI to provide procedures for and limitations on setting of salaries for elected officials. Section 9 of Article I is repealed; unnumbered initiative amendment in Article VI is repealed.

37. Filed and operative November 7, 2006; adds Section 5 of Article VI to limit eminent domain and protect property rights.

38. Filed and operative November 7, 2006; amends Section 2 of Article I to limit terms of office and amends Section 1 of Article VI to set salaries for Board of Supervisors.

39. Filed and operative November 4, 2008: adds Section 11 to Article II to establish a higher standard of ethics for staff members of County elected officers.

40. Filed and operative November 6, 2012: amends Section 1 of Article VI to enact a permanent cap on compensation and mandatory transparency for members of the County Board of Supervisors.