Ethics Commission approves modest budget increase, affirms move toward electronic filings

The San Francisco Ethics Commission unanimously approved its proposed budget at the January meeting, endorsing a modest increase to retain recently filled positions and to cover an increase in the commission’s NetFile contract.

Staff described the request as focused on maintaining last year’s modest increases so the commission can sustain an educator and auditor position and hire one remaining staff member; the packet included a requested additional $22,500 to cover an increase in the NetFile contract. Commissioners discussed how moving to all‑electronic filing could change staffing needs over time and whether temporary staff usage would be affected by that conversion.

Staff said the commission manages two components: an operating (administrative) budget and a separate election campaign fund. Staff noted the election campaign fund receives an annual statutory deposit (about $1.9 million per year, per staff description) and is capped (described in the record as capped at $7.5 million). The commission also projected lower operating revenue for this cycle — staff estimated collecting roughly 73% of a particular revenue projection — and explained that lower campaign consultant registrations and the absence of backlog fines both lower expected revenue.

A motion to adopt the budget was made and seconded and passed unanimously.

Commissioners asked for follow-up materials on revenue projections and temporary-staff assumptions; staff said it would supply further detail and may rebalance projections to a lower collection percentage for the coming year.