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Cloverdale council weighs capping city payment for candidate statements ahead of 2026 election
Summary
Council members discussed whether to pay for candidate statements in the November 2026 voter guide, with staff proposing a $10,000 lump sum or a per‑seat cap (councilors suggested $1,500 per seat); staff will draft a resolution and return with a staff report and budget amendment as needed.
Councilors discussed how much the city should budget to pay for candidate statements in the November 2026 voter information guide and whether to cap the city’s expense. Staff proposed either a $10,000 lump sum to approximate costs or a per‑seat allocation; several council members suggested $1,500 per seat (roughly $4,500 for three open seats) as a starting point.
Why it matters: candidate statements inform voters but printing and translation (English and Spanish) can be costly when multiple candidates submit statements. Staff noted 2024 costs were about $1,000 per statement when printed and translated; costs vary with the number of candidates and whether statements are single or shared pages.
Council direction: members generally supported covering candidate statements to lower the financial barrier for prospective candidates but asked staff to draft a resolution that memorializes the council’s preference and sets a cap or per‑seat allocation so the budget impact is clear. Staff said they would return with a staff report and a proposed resolution and, if necessary, a budget amendment.
