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Ethics staff warns of enforcement backlog; seeks funding, e‑filing and more investigators
Summary
Executive Director Pelham told commissioners the office has 67 active matters (24 formal complaints averaging eight months open and 43 under preliminary review, some more than a year), and proposed additional policy and investigative staff plus a five‑year e‑filing conversion. Commissioners urged the mayor and Board of Supervisors to fund the request.
Executive Director Leanne Pelham briefed the Ethics Commission on the department’s budget request and enforcement workload on April 25, describing a backlog that staff said limits the agency’s ability to investigate complaints and perform proactive oversight.
Pelham told commissioners the office currently has 24 open formal complaints with an average age of eight months and 43 matters in preliminary review, including some between 13 and 15 months old; in total staff described 67 open matters. Pelham and enforcement staff emphasized that those numbers reflect a need for additional investigative capacity and for staff dedicated to policy work so investigators can focus on enforcement.
Pelham also described progress on a proposed e‑filing conversion project submitted to the city’s Committee on Information Technology (COIT). Staff said COIT’s subcommittee recommended funding the multi‑year e‑filing project, which would migrate current filing and disclosure statements to an electronic system, reduce staff burdens and improve public access to disclosure data. The project was described as roughly five years in scope and would be funded through COIT rather than the general fund.
Commissioners and members of the public urged full funding for investigative FTEs and policy positions, and suggested short‑term options such as using Controller’s Office audit help and senior fellows to assist while hiring is pending. Commissioner Keane urged the Commission and public to push the mayor and Board of Supervisors for the requested resources, saying cuts would hamstring enforcement.
Key figures cited by staff: 24 open formal complaints (average age eight months), 43 preliminary review matters (oldest 13–15 months), total caseload 67 matters, and lobbyist registration receipts of $102,500 year‑to‑date versus a budgeted $37,000 due to ordinance changes that capture additional activity.
Outcome and follow‑up: Commissioners expressed consensus that enforcement and staffing are priorities and asked staff to continue budget advocacy with the mayor’s office and supervisors. Staff said it would return with more detail on costs, sequencing and potential implementation plans for the e‑filing project and additional positions.
Representative quote: "When you have 67 matters that are open ... with the resources that we have, the equivalent of 1 full time investigator ... this is again something that we've been talking about that we know we need to right size," Pelham said.
