REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Resolution Establishing the Political Campaign Voluntary Expenditure Limit and Campaign Contribution Limits for the November 8, 2022 Municipal Election
Report
Council Pillar
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara Political Campaign Finance Reform Act (the "Act"), codified in Chapter 2.130 of the Santa Clara City Code, established an initial limit for a candidate's voluntary campaign expenditures at $25,000 for the November 2000 City election. The Act contains a cost-of-living adjustment using the index from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Consumers (CPI-U), San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose subgroup - all items ("CPI"), to be adjusted on an annual basis. The expenditure limit was last adjusted to $46,420 based on CPI adjustments for city-wide contests and set a separate voluntary expenditure limit for district-based contests of $25,000 by the City Council on May 12, 2020.
The Act also contains individual campaign contribution limits that were originally established at $500 for candidates who accepted the voluntary expenditure limit and $250 for those who did not. In 2014, the Act was amended to require that the applicable contribution limits also be adjusted by the CPI, rounded to the nearest ten-dollar figure. In 2020, the applicable contributions limits were adjusted to $630 and $310, respectively.
The Act was amended in May 2018 to provide maximum transparency to the voters of the City of Santa Clara about who is spending money on local campaigns and to create specific disclosure requirements for contributions to organizations that have historically refused to disclose contributions ("dark money"). The Act now includes mandatory disclosure of all contributions of one hundred dollars ($100) or more to any organization that makes expenditures that affect or are intended to affect a local Santa Clara election to City office or for or against a local Santa Clara ball...
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