Council debates and amends public campaign financing rules after funding cut; supplemental mechanism added

The Anne Arundel County Council spent much of its Sept. 15 legislative session debating Bill 71-25, the ordinance that sets procedures and safeguards for the county's new public campaign financing system after the council reduced initial funding earlier this year. Council members amended the proposal to require a controller's review of projected fund sufficiency, add an audit after each election cycle and create a formal path for the county executive to request supplemental funding if the controller finds a shortfall.

The public hearing drew repeated criticism from residents and commission members who said earlier reductions to the fund undercut the program's purpose and could discourage candidates. "Adequate funding is essential to the success of this process," Regina Cornelius told the council during public testimony. Spencer Dixon, chair of the…