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File #: 24-0888    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Approval Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 9/11/2024 In control: Board of Supervisors
On agenda: 9/24/2024 Final action:
Title: Discussion and Possible Action Including Formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to Work with County Counsel to Draft an Ordinance Limiting Campaign Contributions to County Elected Campaigns to $1,000 from an Individual and $2,000 from a Committee, as Well as Overall Spending Limits per Campaign Cycle (Sponsor: Supervisor Haschak)

To:  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

From:  Supervisor Haschak

Meeting Date:  September 24, 2024

 

Department Contact:  

Supervisor Haschak

Phone: 

707-463-4441

 

Item Type:   Regular Agenda

 

Time Allocated for Item: 30 Minutes

 

 

Agenda Title:

title

Discussion and Possible Action Including Formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to Work with County Counsel to Draft an Ordinance Limiting Campaign Contributions to County Elected Campaigns to $1,000 from an Individual and $2,000 from a Committee, as Well as Overall Spending Limits per Campaign Cycle

(Sponsor: Supervisor Haschak)

End

 

Recommended Action/Motion:

recommendation

Form an Ad Hoc Committee to work with County Counsel to draft an ordinance limiting campaign contributions to County Elected Campaigns to $1,000 from an individual and $2,000 from a Committee, as well as overall spending limit per campaign cycle.

End

 

Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:

None.                     

 

Summary of Request

AB 571 which amended various Elections and Government Code provisions pertaining to campaign contribution limits allows a county to limit campaign contributions in county elections. Government may regulate campaign financing to avoid corruption in the political process in order to prevent quid pro quo for financial contributions. The State of California currently limits contributions to $5,500 for an individual. Counties throughout California have adopted ordinances limiting this amount. For example, Sonoma County has a limit of $3500, Humboldt Co. $1,500, Santa Cruz Co. $500, Santa Clara Co. $1,500, Sacramento Co. $1,000. Another limitation is Santa Barbara has an overall spending limit of $1 per resident in the electoral jurisdiction (Supervisorial districts would be limited to $18,000 while county wide campaigns would be limited to $91,000 more or less). Some counties have put in place exceptions in cases of independent expenditure campaigns spending over a certain amount. In some counties, the limit is doubled to counterbalance the influence of independent expenditure campaigns. Board discussion should provide direction to as to whether an individual or committee limit is desired, if an overall limit is desired, and if further exploration is warranted. If so, then an ad hoc committee should be formed to work with County Counsel to bring back information and a model ordinance.

 

Alternative Action/Motion:

Return to staff for alternate handling.                     

 

Strategic Plan Priority Designation: An Effective County Government

 

Supervisorial District:  All

                                          

Vote Requirement:  Majority

                                          

 

 

Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A

 

Fiscal Details:

source of funding: N/A

current f/y cost: N/A

budget clarification: N/A

annual recurring cost: N/A

budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A

revenue agreement: N/A

AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: N/A

CEO Liaison: Executive Office                                                               

CEO Review: Yes                                            

CEO Comments:

 

FOR COB USE ONLY

Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Senior Deputy Clerk

Final Status: Approved

Date: September 24, 2024