Portland’s City Council is looking at expanding the campaign finance program. Elected and appointed officials are looking at updating the city’s publicly-funded campaign finance program for the 2024 election. This, as previously reported in this publication, is a part of the total overhaul the city’s government. The new campaign elections policy will make alterations to the city’s small donor elections program.
It is being said that the current funding set up do not account for the millions in additional dollars needed to expand the program by 2024. Roughly, $4 million more is said to be needed to fully match funds in 2024 and cover operating expenses. The measure to expand Portland’s city government instructed the city to hold an election for all 14 city seats, including the mayor and auditor, in November 2024.
With this layout, half of the council terms will be for two years and the other half will be for four. After 2026, each term will last four years. This is supposed to ensure that future elections only see six council seats up for grabs at a time. In addition, city candidates who shows that they are only receiving individual campaign donations is eligible for the new program.
There is a qualifying process to receive funds. Currently, candidates for city council must first get at least 250 donations below the $250 mark. This is said to be proof that there is community support for the candidate. For those running for Mayor, that number doubles to 500 donations. The city then kicks in and matches the first $20 of all individual donations made to that candidate 9-to-1. That money comes from the city’s general fund.
In an effort to expand and make it better for the average person, the new policy for public campaign finance limits would increase if candidates collect more individual donors. For example, candidates who received donations from at least 250 Portlanders could receive up to $100,000 in matching funds, those who collect 750 donations could collect up to $200,000, and those with more than 1,250 donations would be limited to $300,000 in matching dollars. Expert say, however, this would be a cut in matching funds for city council candidates.
The Portland Elections Commission is a volunteer group. It’s new policy recommendations would increase the individual donation limit to $350 for all candidates. The change would also increase the matching rate for individual donations to 10-to-1 for the first $25 of any contribution with funds only to be available to candidates in a fall contest.
