Local Campaign Finance Reform

Please provide the following information about the city/county you are responding for:

Does the city/county  have campaign finance reform? (i.e. contribution or spending limits, web disclosure, independent expenditure reporting, or any other significant reform)

Yes
No

If you answered No to question 2 please skip to question 18. Thank You.

Does the city/county  have contribution limits?

Yes
No

If you answered yes to 3, what are the amount(s) of the limits and any additional information about the limits including limits for PAC's, parties, issue groups?

Is there a restriction on when candidates can raise money? (e.g.. a restriction that candidate's may only raise money during the period 6 months prior to election.)

Does the city/county have expenditure/spending limits for candidates?

Voluntary
Mandatory
None

If you answered yes to 6, what are the amount(s) of the limits a

If you answered None to question 6 you may skip forward to question 13

Does the city/county publish the names of those agreeing to or not agreeing to voluntary spending limits?

Yes
No

Where are the names published ? (e.g.. Newspaper, ballot, voter information guide.)

Does the city/county use variable contribution limits? (i.e. Limits of $100 donations for those who do not agree to voluntary spending limits and limits of $200 for those who do agree to voluntary spending limits.)

Yes
No

Does the city/county  have public financing of campaigns?

Yes
No

Please give additional details about your public financing system.

Does the city/county use any other incentive to induce participation in voluntary spending limits?

Does the city/county require reporting of independent expenditures?

For groups that advocate candidate election or defeat
For groups advocating issues only
For both issue and candidate groups
None

Does the city/county have a conflict of interest provision relating to campaign contributions? Answer yes only if your jurisdiction has a specific law that directly or indirectly impacts contributions or spending.  An example would be a law that says if a donor gives a candidate $100 that candidate, once elected, cannot vote on any matter directly impacting that donor. 

Yes No

Additional conflict of interest details

Campaign finance reform in (your location) has: (Check all that apply)

Had a positive impact

Had a negative impact

Decreased large campaign contributions

Increased the number of candidates running

Decreased total candidate expenditures

Increased grassroots campaigning

Other (Provide info below)

Does the city/county have effective internet/web disclosure of this information

Yes No

Please provide any additional information which may be of help.

Does the city/county have a substantial ethics code (separate from any applicable state ethics laws) covering the conduct of elected officials and local government employees?

Yes No

If you answered yes to question 18, which of the following provisions appear in your code: (Check all that apply)

Conflict of interest
Ban on gifts 
Ban on the hiring of relatives 
Ban on use of public office for private gain
Citizen complaint provision
Restrictions on employment/revolving door
Creation of ethics commission
Advisory opinions
Penalties such as fines or reprimands
Other: (Please specify below)

Are there court cases or written determinations in your jurisdiction, made by the ethics commission, city attorney, or other entity, involving provisions of the ethics code? (If answer is Yes, please provide us with either an electronic version or a hard copy.  Thank you.)

Yes No

Are there any other experiences or observations about your local ethics code and its application to local government officials and employees that we should be aware of?