It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to alleviate the current fiscal crisis created by the passage of Proposition 13 (Article XIII A of the California Constitution), and to provide for maintaining essential services which would otherwise be lost.

The Legislature finds and declares that limiting increases in wages or salaries for local public agency officers and employees and cost of living increases for other individuals will allow essential local government services to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be the case, and will promote full employment and prevent layoffs.

The Legislature further finds and declares that this chapter constitutes a matter of statewide concern, and shall apply to charter counties and charter cities. The provisions of this chapter shall supersede any inconsistent provisions in the charter of any county or city.