Form revised February 6, 2008

 

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

Department:

Contact Person/Phone:

DOF Analyst/Phone:

Legislative

Mike Fong/5-1675

N/A

 

Legislation Title:

A Resolution establishing the Campaign Public Finance Advisory Committee

 

·        Summary of the Legislation:

 

This legislation creates an ad-hoc advisory group to provide the Mayor and Council with recommendations regarding the implementation of a campaign public financing program for the City of Seattle.  The advisory group’s final report is due to the Council and Mayor by June 12, 2008.

 

·        Background:  (Include brief description of the purpose and context of legislation and include record of previous legislation and funding history, if applicable):

 

WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature approved and the Governor has signed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5278, allowing local jurisdictions to establish programs to publicly finance campaigns; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle established a system for partial public financing for election campaigns in 1978; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fair Campaign Practices Act enacted following the passage of Initiative 134 in 1992 prohibited the use of public funds to finance state and local political campaigns; and

 

WHEREAS, recent information from the Seattle Ethics and Elections Office shows that the total number of contributors to local campaigns has declined by 37% since 2003 while the number of contributions under $100 has declined by 56% in that same time period; and

 

WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council have expressed support for examining and potentially reinstating a local public financing system for election campaigns; and

 

WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council welcome the input of a diverse group of individuals and organizations with expertise and interest in promoting fair and equitable election campaigns and removing barriers to the democratic process.

 

·        Please check one of the following:

 

_X__   This legislation does not have any financial implications.  (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)