Council considers amendment to public campaign-financing bill to allow supplemental funding and audits

On Sept. 9 the council reviewed Bill 71-25, a sponsor-initiated amendment to the county’s public campaign-financing framework that would (1) create a process for adding funds to the public financing pool when more candidates qualify after the July 1 budget certification and (2) require post-election audits of campaign accounts that used public funds.

Sponsor (Council Chair) explained the change seeks to address a practical shortfall discovered during the most recent budget cycle: the original program did not provide a mechanism to increase the funding after new qualifying candidates emerged in a cycle. Under the draft, the controller would notify the county executive if the currently budgeted funds are insufficient; the executive would include the recommendation in the budget and the council would consider appropriation. The bill would also add an audit requirement for publicly financed accounts after elections.

Ethan Hunt and administration staff said they support the changes with clarifying amendments to ensure the comptroller’s estimate is based on candidates who have filed or have otherwise signaled definitive intent to use public financing. Brian Schenk (Finance) and Office of Law staff participated in the review. The administration proposed language requiring the comptroller to consider candidates who “reasonably are expected to be required under the next election cycle based on candidates who have indicated to the Maryland State Board of Elections that they will seek public campaign financing.”

Councilmembers discussed the political checks and balances inherent in the process. Councilmember Rabian asked whether requiring county-level audits would duplicate state audits; the sponsor said she would consider whether county auditors could provide a timely supplemental audit. Councilmember Rapian (and others) raised concern about allowing the council’s annual appropriations process to effectively determine mid-cycle campaign resources; the sponsor noted the county executive must include the commission’s recommended amount in the executive’s budget submission and that the council — as the local fiscal authority — retains the appropriation vote.

No appropriation vote was taken in the work session. Staff and the Public Campaign Finance Commission plan additional drafting to define the comptroller’s certification standards and to address audit timing and scope.