Campaign Contributions FAQ

No. This is a primarily formed committee that supports a ballot measure. Campaign contribution limits only apply to certain candidates running for public office, not to committees that are primarily formed to support a ballot measure. 

It depends...

• If you contribute more than $49.99 ($50.00 or more) the Fair Political Practices Commission requires that we disclose your contribution on local (SLO County) filings.
• If you contribute less than $50.00 then your contribution will not be disclosed on any local or state filings. This limit is cumulative over the life of the campaign, so multiple contributions are aggregated.
• Regardless of the amount contributed, you have the option of telling the committee whether or not you want your name included on our website and materials circulated to encourage voters to support this ballot measure.

Individuals (including spouses) may make separate contributions from a joint checking account on a single check. For reporting purposes, the full amount of the contribution is reported as coming from the individual who signs the check. If two or more individuals sign the check, the contribution is divided equally between or among the signers, unless there is an accompanying document signed by each individual whose name is printed on the check that clearly indicates a different apportionment.

The Fair Political Practices Commission requires the filing of Form 460 to disclose the amounts and sources of monetary contributions received.

Contributions of $50 but less than $100 require that we disclose the full name, address, and contribution amount.

Contributions of $100 or more from individuals require that we also disclose your occupation and employer. If you are self‐employed you must so state and include the name of your business. If you do not provide us with this information then we are required to return your contribution to you. If we can’t return the contribution then we are required to send your contribution to the Secretary of State for deposit in the State General Fund.

Contributions from businesses require that we disclose the business name, address, and amount contributed.

You can contribute $49.99 or less one time if you do not wish your name to be reported on required filings. If you contribute less than $50 more than one time then your contributions will be totaled and your name will be reported once you exceed $50 in contributions. If you provide funds to another person or business so that they may contribute on your behalf then we are required to disclose all of the required information for both you and the intermediary.

Cash contributions can be made up to $99.99 provided you disclose your full name, address, occupation and employer. You cannot contribute $100 in cash and receive a penny back.

Yes. If the contribution is non‐monetary (services and/or products) then we are required to disclose the non‐monetary contribution and the fair market value of the non‐monetary contribution.

If an individual donates his or her personal or professional services to a campaign (including a volunteer’s travel expenses), no contribution has been made or received as long as there is no understanding of reimbursement. If an employer donates employee services to a campaign, and any employee spends more than 10 percent of his or her compensated time in a calendar month performing campaign activity, the employer has made a nonmonetary contribution to the committee. Determine the contribution amount by allocating the gross salary to the time spent on campaign activity.Yes. If the contribution is non‐monetary (services and/or products) then we are required to disclose the non‐monetary contribution and the fair market value of the non‐monetary contribution.

If an individual donates his or her personal or professional services to a campaign (including a volunteer’s travel expenses), no contribution has been made or received as long as there is no understanding of reimbursement. If an employer donates employee services to a campaign, and any employee spends more than 10 percent of his or her compensated time in a calendar month performing campaign activity, the employer has made a nonmonetary contribution to the committee. Determine the contribution amount by allocating the gross salary to the time spent on campaign activity.

If a person holds a fundraiser or other campaign event in his or her home or office, the costs incurred by the occupant of the home or office need not be reported as long as the total cost of the event is $500 or less. However, if someone else donates food, beverages, or anything else of value to the event, the fair market value of those donated goods is a nonmonetary contribution. In addition, the donated goods must be counted to determine whether the total cost of the event is $500 or less.

If you have more questions about contribution and disclosure rules, you can find information at fppc.ca.gov or slocounty.ca.gov.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to pass the San Luis Obispo 1 ½ Percent Sales Tax 

Source: California Fair Political Practices Commission fppc.ca.gov and SLO County Clerk