CAPTION: Repeals City of Portland publicly funded campaign system; prohibits expenditures.

 

QUESTION: Shall City’s Campaign Finance Fund code be repealed, and shall expenditure of City money for City election campaigns be prohibited?

 

SUMMARY: The Portland City Council approved Ordinance No. 179258 on May 18, 2005, which enacted City Code Chapter 2.10 and added other new provisions to the City Code, including City Code Sections 2.02.010, 2.02.030 and 2.02.040. City Code Chapter 2.10 establishes a campaign finance system that uses public money to fund the campaigns of certified candidates for Portland Mayor, City Commissioner and City Auditor. The code provides that the City Council may make an annual appropriation from the City budget to fund the campaign finance system and limits annual impact on City funds to two tenths of one percent. The code limits contributions to and spending by candidates who receive public funding and requires additional reporting of contributions and independent expenditures.  This measure will repeal Ordinance No. 179258 and Code Chapter 2.10. The measure also provides that no monies received by the City shall be expended to or for the benefit of any candidate for use in a campaign for elective office.