Corporate Status and Powers
- Ozamiz is a political corporation with perpetual succession and municipal powers.
- It has a common seal; can hold, convey, lease, and dispose of property; sue and be sued; and exercise powers under the Charter.
- The city is not liable for damages arising from enforcement failures or negligence of its officers.
City Government Structure
- Executive branch headed by the Mayor, elected for four-year terms with salary and allowance.
- Acting Mayor duties fall first on the City Treasurer, then City Engineer; President appoints if necessary.
- Mayor exercises executive control, enforces laws, manages city property and revenue, initiates litigation, and submits budget.
Municipal Board (Legislative Body)
- Composed of the Mayor (presiding officer), City Treasurer, City Engineer, and five elected councilors.
- Ordinances require five affirmative votes; the Mayor may veto with override procedures.
- Board manages taxation, appropriations, city employee remuneration, business licensing, sanitation, public safety, traffic regulation, and public works.
- Restrictions on commercial signs on public properties empower the Mayor to remove offensive signs.
City Departments and Officials
- Departments: Finance, Engineering, Law, Police, Fire.
- Department heads control operations, certify pay rolls, prepare budget estimates, and report to the Mayor.
- Official appointments by the President (certain key officials) and the Mayor (other officers) under Civil Service Law.
- City officers are prohibited from engaging in business transactions with the city or purchasing city property under certain conditions.
Finance Department
- City Treasurer as fiscal officer manages collections, disbursements, purchases, and accountability of funds.
- Deposits municipal funds daily and reports monthly expenditures and balances.
Engineering Department
- City Engineer manages surveying, public works planning, public property maintenance, waterworks, sanitation, and fire safety regulations.
- Public works over three thousand pesos require bidding or presidential approval for administration execution.
Law Department
- City Attorney serves as legal adviser, represents the city in civil and criminal cases, prepares legal documents, investigates crimes, prosecutes offenses, and advises city officials.
Police and Fire Departments
- Chief of Police oversees law enforcement, maintains peace, processes arrests, executes court process, and supervises special police.
- Chief of Secret Service handles detective work.
- Chief of Fire Department manages fire equipment, fire safety, investigates fires, and regulates installation of hazardous materials.
Real Estate Assessment and Taxation
- City Assessor valued and lists taxable real estate, empowered to administer oaths, examine property ownership, and adjust valuations.
- Tax exemptions apply to government and certain religious, charitable, scientific, and educational properties, small owner-held properties, and certain machinery.
- Property acquisition or improvement must be declared to the Assessor.
- Real estate taxes up to 2% ad valorem levied annually; collection includes penalties for delinquency; personal property exempt from seizure in certain cases.
- Tax delinquency procedures include seizure and auction of personal and real property, with redemption rights for owners.
Special Assessments for Public Improvements
- Municipal Board may levy special assessments up to 60% on specially benefited lands for local or national public works.
- Assessments apportioned based on assessed property values.
- Procedures for ordinance enactment, public notice, owner protests, hearings, appeals, and payments detailed.
City Budget
- The City Treasurer recommends a certified detailed financial statement and revenue estimate to the Mayor.
- The Mayor prepares and submits a detailed budget to the Municipal Board at least 2.5 months before the fiscal year.
- Supplemental budgets may be adopted; previous year’s appropriation continues if new appropriations are delayed.
Municipal Court
- Municipal Court staffed by appointed judges with clerk appointed by the Mayor.
- The Court has jurisdiction over certain misdemeanors, preliminary investigations, and shares jurisdiction with the Court of First Instance for some offenses.
- Powers include administration of oaths, issuing of writs, compelling attendance of witnesses, and punishing contempt.
- Appeals process to the Court of First Instance governed by law.
Other Municipal Bureaus
- Auditor General audits city accounts.
- Purchasing Agent handles city procurement.
- City Health Officer oversees public health, enforces health laws, maintains vital statistics, and recommends health ordinances.
- Educational authority vested in the Director of Public Schools and local school board.
Transitory and Miscellaneous Provisions
- City government organized upon qualification of the Mayor and elected Municipal Board members.
- Until further law, city remains part of Misamis Occidental’s legislative district.
- The Act takes effect upon approval.