(A) An Applicant Candidate may accept Seed Money not to exceed $250.00 per Person.
(B) An Applicant Candidate may contribute up to $2,500.00 from the Applicant Candidate’s personal funds for Seed Money.
(C) Seed Money shall be deducted from the revenues distributed to the Participating Candidate from the Fund.
(D) The aggregate amount of Seed Money received and spent by an Applicant Candidate shall not exceed an amount equal to 20% of the distribution from the Fund, or the Applicable Spending Limit to a Participating Candidate.
(E) An Applicant Candidate or Participating Candidate may accept In-Kind Contributions from the beginning of the Exploratory Period up to the regular municipal election, or, in the event that a Participating Candidate is in a run-off, up to the run-off election. The value of any In-Kind Contribution shall not count against the applicable limit on Seed Money contributions. The aggregate amount of In-Kind Contributions received by an Applicant Candidate shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of the applicable spending limit.
(F) Volunteer work-hours are non-reportable and shall not count as In-Kind Contributions or against the applicable limit on Seed Money. An individual may volunteer personal services to an Applicant Candidate as long as the volunteer is not compensated. If an individual volunteers during working hours, paid by a third-party employer or the Applicant Candidate, then that employer makes an In-Kind Contribution to the Applicant Candidate.
(G) If a Participating Candidate is defeated or is elected, any unspent Seed Money shall be forfeited to the Fund.
(H) Mayoral Applicant Candidates may accept Seed Money from 246 days before the election through 136 days before the election. Council Candidates may accept Seed Money from 191 days before the election through 120 days before the election.
(1) In the event that a Candidate's certification for public financing or qualification by the County Clerk as a Candidate has been challenged, the Candidate may continue to accept seed money until the City Clerk provides the Candidate with notice that the certification or qualification by the County Clerk as a Candidate has been upheld.
(Amended at Regular Municipal Election, November 5, 2019.) (Amended by Ordinance No. 2019-019; Am. Ord. 2020-019; Am. Ord. 2020-028; Am. Ord. 2022-042)