Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agency Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge PDC to revisit penalty schedule and improve collections
Summary
Public commenters told the PDC the current penalty schedule for late C4 reporting is treated by campaigns as "the cost of doing business" and urged the commission to revisit the schedule, improve collections, and formalize the agency's withdrawal/termination process via rulemaking.
Two members of the public addressed the commission during the public-comment period, urging changes to the agency’s penalty and collections practices.
Connor (identified in staff materials as complainant Connor Edwards) urged the PDC to reconsider its penalty schedule and to consider separate penalties for each missing C4 report rather than treating multiple missed pre-election reports as a single offense; he told commissioners the schedule is often viewed by campaigns "as simply the cost of doing business." He also raised concerns that a very small share of assessed penalties sent to collections are actually collected and said the agency should prioritize fixing that gap. Connor urged the PDC to move the agency’s administrative withdrawal process into formal rulemaking so candidates and filers have clearer, codified guidance.
Robert Parker, the next commenter, praised staff assistance provided by Tabitha and offered private-sector advice for improving debt collection; he also criticized what he described as slow accountability in a long-running matter involving a longtime elected official. Commissioners thanked commenters and noted staff cannot rely on collections revenue for ongoing operations but welcomed suggestions about improving recovery processes.
