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State moves municipal financial disclosures to ethics portal; city staff to help commissioners meet new deadlines
Summary
City staff told commissioners that state law now preempts municipal financial-disclosure requirements; disclosures will be filed on the state Ethics Commission portal annually between Jan. 1 and May 15 and new members will have 30 days to file initial statements.
Unidentified city staff told the Mayor and Board Commissioners the state has preempted municipal financial-disclosure statements and that the city’s proposed ordinance will repeal the local code provision that is now redundant. The staffer said the Ethics Commission has opened a portal (in beta) for filings and that annual disclosure windows will run from Jan. 1 through May 15, with newly sworn officials having 30 days to file an initial report.
The staff member said much of the city's previous disclosure language mirrored state requirements, so the practical reporting duties will be similar even though the filing venue has changed. Staff offered to provide training and assistance: city staff (Summer, Melissa and Mandy were referenced) will help commission members use the new portal and ensure compliance.
Commissioners asked whether campaign reporting and quarterly statements are affected; the staffer confirmed those reporting duties have also moved to the state level where applicable. City leadership said they will help notify commissioners and provide on-site or remote assistance to complete the new state filings.
