Sacramento Municipal Code Art. III Spending Limitations

A. No candidate for the office of city council member who files a statement of acceptance of financing from the Campaign Reform Fund pursuant to Section 2.14.100(A), and whose statement is not rescinded pursuant to Section 2.14.100(C), shall make campaign expenditures in an election for the office of city council member in excess of the following amounts:

1. Eighty-eight thousand dollars ($88,000.00) in a primary election period; and

2. Eighty-eight thousand dollars ($88,000.00) in a general or special election period.

B. No candidate for the office of mayor who files a statement of acceptance of financing from the Campaign Reform Fund pursuant to Section 2.14.100 and whose statement is not rescinded pursuant to Section 2.14.100 shall make campaign expenditures in excess of the following amounts:

1. Five hundred eighty-five thousand dollars ($585,000.00) in a primary election period; and

2. Five hundred eighty-five thousand dollars ($585,000.00) in a general or special election period.

C. Although only candidates for city office who have filed a statement of acceptance of financing are subject to the expenditure limitations set forth in subsections A and B of this section, it is the intent of this section that such expenditure limitations apply to all candidates for the following purposes:

1. For purposes of determining when otherwise applicable expenditure limitations no longer apply to candidates who have filed a statement of acceptance; and

2. For purposes of determining when a candidate must provide the notification required by Section 2.14.100. (Ord. 2009-020 § 6; Ord. 2007-015 § 7; Ord. 2005-071 § 1; Ord. 2003-046 § 1)

A. Subject to the city clerk's providing notice pursuant to subsection B of this section, the voluntary expenditure ceiling shall be lifted as to any candidate running for a city elective office upon the occurrence of one of the following:

1. If another candidate for the same office declines to accept the voluntary expenditure ceilings and receives contributions, has cash on hand, or makes qualified campaign expenditures in excess of seventy-five (75) percent of the recommended expenditure ceiling for that office; or

2. If an independent expenditure committee or committees in the aggregate spend more than fifty (50) percent of the applicable recommended expenditure ceiling for that same office in support of or in opposition to any other candidate for that office.

B. Upon a determination that one or more of the events specified in subsection A of this section, has occurred, the city clerk shall notify candidates of the occurrence of such event(s) and shall indicate those candidates for city elective office who are entitled to exceed the expenditure limits established by this chapter. The city clerk shall base his or her determination upon the information disclosed in the notification provided by a candidate under Section 2.14.070 and/or upon the information disclosed on any city supplemental statement or form filed under this chapter or Chapter 2.13 or any campaign statement filed under the Political Reform Act or the Regulations by candidates for city elective office or by committees making independent expenditures. No candidate who accepted the voluntary expenditure limits may exceed the expenditure limits except upon notice by the city clerk pursuant to this section.

C. Any candidate running for a city elective office for which the voluntary expenditure ceiling has been lifted who originally accepted the voluntary expenditure ceilings, who did not rescinded his or her statement of acceptance under Section 2.14.100(C), and who qualified for matching funds as set forth in Sections 2.14.100, 2.14.130 and 2.14.140, shall be permitted to continue receiving matching funds. (Ord. 2005-071 § 2; Ord. 2003-046 § 1)

Any candidate for city office who receives contributions, has cash on hand or makes qualified campaign expenditures in excess of seventy-five (75) percent of the applicable expenditure limitation set forth in Section 2.14.050 shall notify all opposing candidates and the city clerk of such over expenditure by mailgram, telegram, guaranteed overnight mail through the United States Postal Service or equivalent private delivery service, or personal delivery, within twenty-four (24) hours of such over expenditure. (Ord. 2003-046 § 1)

A. Extensions of credit to a candidate for a period of more than ninety (90) days, or in an amount in excess of the contribution limitations established in Chapter 2.13, shall be prohibited.

B. Extensions of credit to a candidate shall be considered campaign expenditures for purposes of this article as of the time the extension of credit is granted. (Ord. 2003-046 § 1)

For purposes of the spending limits specified in this article, the amount of the maximum possible fee in a contingency fee arrangement that is entered into between a candidate and individual(s) retained to provide goods or services during the course of a campaign and that bases the contingency fee on the outcome of the election, shall be considered an expenditure. (Ord. 2005-071 § 3; Ord. 2003-046 § 1)