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Committee approves amendments allowing assessor-recorder limited fundraising for legal and community services
Summary
The committee voted 3-0 to amend and forward a resolution authorizing the Assessor-Recorder's office to solicit donations for legal services and related community support, with added reporting and limits on who may solicit gifts.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee approved amendments to a resolution authorizing the Office of the Assessor-Recorder to solicit donations for legal and nonlegal services that support immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, environmental protection and racial equity, then forwarded the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
Holly Long (presenting for the Assessor-Recorder's office) told the committee the change "eases the requirements around payments for 6 months, allowing the assessor some breathing room to fundraise for vital services and programs in response to the federal actions." Long said the office would not actively solicit from interested parties and supported additional transparency measures proposed by the committee.
Amendments approved by the committee narrowed who could solicit donations, extending the waiver not just to the Assessor-Recorder and employees but specifically to the Assessor-Recorder, the director of policy and government affairs and two deputy assessors. The committee also added a monthly reporting requirement: each monthly report must identify the party solicited or the party who made a donation, the amount of the solicitation or donation, and any interested relationship that party has with the Assessor-Recorder's office. The committee indicated it intended to limit who could solicit donations to four individuals.
On roll call the amendment passed: Vice Chair Sauter: aye; Member Cheryl: aye; Chair Jackie Fielder: aye (3–0). The committee then voted 3–0 to forward the amended resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
Why it matters: The amendment creates a temporary exception to the city's payment/solicitation rules (as described in the resolution) so the Assessor-Recorder's office can accept private support for litigation and services tied to immigration and other civil-rights matters. Committee members emphasized transparency and monthly disclosure to the Board.
Public comment: The clerk reported there were no members of the public who wished to speak on this item.
Next steps: The amended resolution will be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda for further consideration; the Assessor-Recorder's office committed to monthly disclosures under the amendment.
