The Argument
- What is on the ballot: City of Jackson voters will consider a proposed amendment to the City Charter concerning the City Treasurer position during the Nov. 3, 2026 election. The proposal asks whether the Treasurer should change from an elected office to a position appointed by City Council. (FACT: City of Jackson information published via Legal News, DataId 1631438.)
- When it would take effect: If approved, the change would take effect Dec. 1, 2028, following the expiration of the current elected Treasurer’s term. The current Treasurer’s elected term would not be shortened or otherwise affected. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
- The sections amended: The proposal would amend Sections 5.3, 7.1, 7.4, 7.10, and 11.5 of the Jackson City Charter. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News; Jackson County Notice of Election, Nov. 3, 2026.)
- The same-ballot twist: City voters will also elect a Treasurer on this same Nov. 3 ballot — the candidates listed by the City Clerk are David R. Hammontree and Nanette Muntin — and whoever wins serves the term that runs to Dec. 1, 2028. The charter question decides what happens to the office after that term ends. (FACT: City of Jackson Election Division, cityofjackson.org; Jackson County Notice of Election.)
The exact ballot wording
The Jackson County Notice of Election prints the proposal this way: “Currently, the City Treasurer is elected from the City at large. This amendment would make the treasurer position a City Council appointed position effective as of December 1, 2028, which is the expiration of the current City Treasurer term of office. Shall Sections 5.3, 7.1, 7.4, 7.10 and 11.5 of the Jackson City Charter be amended to make the elected Office of Treasurer a City Council appointed position effective December 1, 2028, which appointee shall serve at the pleasure of City Council after that date?” (FACT: Jackson County Notice of Election for Nov. 3, 2026.)
A vote in favor approves changing the Treasurer from an elected position to a City Council-appointed position effective Dec. 1, 2028. A vote against leaves the Treasurer as an elected position under the City Charter. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
What would change
Who can hold the job. Because the Treasurer is currently an elected citywide office, candidates must meet the residency and elector qualifications in the City Charter. If the position becomes appointed, City Council would not be limited to considering only applicants who reside within the City of Jackson. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
Whether credentials can be required. The current elected Treasurer position does not require specific professional credentials or minimum job qualifications under the City Charter or city administrative personnel policy. An appointed position would allow City Council to conduct a hiring process and consider applicants from a broader geographic pool. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
Who the Treasurer answers to. An appointed Treasurer would serve at the pleasure of City Council. City Council already appoints several other administrative positions under the City Charter, including the City Manager, City Assessor, City Attorney, and City Clerk. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
What would stay the same
Whether the Treasurer is elected or appointed, the office would continue to carry out the responsibilities assigned under the City Charter and applicable law, including the custody and safekeeping of city funds and administration of city income tax collection functions. The City of Jackson states it is providing this information to help residents understand the proposal and does not advocate for or against it. Ballot, candidate and proposal information is available through Jackson County Elections at co.jackson.mi.us/351/Elections. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
(COMMENTARY: There is no trick in this question, but there is a trade, and voters should name it plainly before they mark it. Electing a treasurer gives Jackson residents a direct vote over the person who holds custody of city funds — and no power to require that person to have any particular financial credential or to live anywhere beyond the charter’s residency rule. Appointing a treasurer trades that direct vote for a hiring process: a broader pool, set qualifications, and a council that can remove its appointee. Reasonable Jackson voters can land on either side. What no voter should do is skip the question as a technicality: it is the only item on this ballot that decides how a future ballot will look.)
FAQs
If the amendment passes, does the current Treasurer lose the job?
No. The change takes effect Dec. 1, 2028, following expiration of the current elected term, and the current term is not shortened or otherwise affected. The Treasurer elected Nov. 3, 2026 serves that term. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
Who are the Treasurer candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot?
David R. Hammontree and Nanette Muntin, per the City Clerk’s confirmed candidate list; city elections are non-partisan. (FACT: City of Jackson Election Division.)
What does “serve at the pleasure of City Council” mean?
It is the ballot language for an appointed Treasurer: the appointee holds the position as a City Council appointment, rather than for a fixed elected term. (FACT: Jackson County Notice of Election ballot language; City of Jackson via Legal News.)
Where can I read the official ballot language?
Through Jackson County Elections, linked from the City of Jackson’s published information at co.jackson.mi.us/351/Elections. (FACT: City of Jackson via Legal News.)
Source links
- City of Jackson provides information on City Treasurer Charter Amendment proposal (City of Jackson via Legal News, DataId 1631438): https://legalnews.com/Home/Articles?DataId=1631438
- Notice of Election, to be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Jackson County, as posted by Blackman Charter Township): https://blackmantwp.com/wp-content/uploads/Notice-of-Election-November-2026.pdf
- Election Division (City of Jackson): https://cityofjackson.org/267/Election-Division
AI-generated header image: the header image for this article is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph.
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