Oakland Municipal Code Art. III Election Campaign Fund

A. Subject to an appropriation by the City Council for this purpose, the Public Ethics Commission shall establish and allocate funds for a public financing program, consistent with this chapter, to fund all candidates eligible to receive public financing running for the office of District City Councilmember in the 2024, 2026 and 2028 general elections.

B. Any unspent funds allocated for the public financing program pursuant to Subsection A. at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in a fund administered by the Public Ethics Commission and accrue for disbursement to candidates eligible for public financing in future elections and for administrative costs.

C. Up to seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the amount allocated to the public financing program pursuant to Subsection A. may be utilized by the Public Ethics Commission to cover the anticipated cost of administering the provisions of this Act.

(Ord. No. 13767, Art. I, 11-7-2023; Ord. No. 13849, § 3, 6-3-2025)

No later than seven (7) days after the City Clerk has certified the names of all candidates to appear on the ballot, the Public Ethics Commission shall determine at a publicly noticed meeting whether, based on the number of potentially eligible candidates, the amount of money in the election campaign fund is adequate to provide the maximum amount to potentially eligible candidates. If the Commission determines that the election campaign fund will not be adequate to provide the maximum amount of funds to potentially eligible candidates, the Commission shall order the disbursement of available funds on a pro rata or other equitable basis. The Commission may at any time revise the disbursement plan consistent with these rules and prevailing law.

(Ord. No. 13767, Art. I, 11-7-2023)