Inquiry of the Week (07/31/00)

Question:

What is the mayor's tie-breaking authority in a mayor-council code city?

Answer:

RCW 35A.12.100 indicates that the mayor shall have a vote only in the case of a tie in the votes of the councilmembers. However, there are important limitations on the tie-breaking authority of the mayor. The mayor may not break a tie in regard to the passage of any ordinance, or in regard to the grant or revocation of a franchise or license, or with regard to any resolution for the payment of money. This is because of the limitation imposed in RCW 35A.12.100 and also because of RCW 35A.12.120, which indicates that those types of actions require the affirmative vote of at least the whole membership of the council.