Norman v. Van Elsberg

This is a proceeding filed pursuant to ORS 27.010-27.030 permitting a controversy to be submitted without action or suit. ①

The question presented is whether the Board of County Commissioners of Coos County has the authority to decrease admittedly reasonable salaries of juvenile department personnel fixed by the judges of the juvenile court.

The trial court held that the board did not have such authority. The Court of Appeals reversed. We allowed plaintiffs’ petition for review.

The facts are set out in detail in the opinion of the Court of Appeals (7 Or App 66, 489 P2d 394); we shall briefly…