(a) Amount of disbursements. The Controller shall disburse a public contribution from the Fund to each certified candidate in a contested election only during the disbursement period as follows:
(1) For a certified candidate for County Executive, the matching dollars shall equal:
(i) $6 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the first $50 of each qualifying contribution;
(ii) $4 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the second $50 of each qualifying contribution; and
(iii) $2 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the third $50 of each qualifying contribution.
(2) For a certified candidate for County Council, the matching dollars shall equal:
(i) $4 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the first $50 of each qualifying contribution;
(ii) $3 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the second $50 of each qualifying contribution; and
(iii) $2 for each dollar of a qualifying contribution received for the third $50 of each qualifying contribution.
(3) The total public contribution payable to a certified candidate for an election cycle may not exceed:
(i) $750,000 for a candidate for County Executive; and
(ii) $125,000 for a candidate for County Council.
(b) Limitation. The Controller may not disburse matching dollars from the Fund to a certified candidate for:
(1) a contribution from the candidate or the candidate’s spouse; or
(2) an in-kind contribution of property, goods, or services.
(c) Qualifying contributions. A certified candidate may continue to collect qualifying contributions and receive a matching public contribution up to the primary election or, if the certified candidate advances, the general election. A qualifying contribution may not exceed $250 from any individual in the aggregate during an election cycle.
(d) Annual review of Fund balance. On or before July 1 of the year preceding a primary election, the Controller shall determine if the amount in the Fund is sufficient to meet the maximum public contributions reasonably expected to be required during the next election cycle. If the Controller determines that the total amount available for disbursement in the Fund is insufficient to meet the allocations required by this section, the Controller shall reduce each public contribution to a certified candidate based on the ratio of the amount in the Fund to the maximum public contributions reasonably expected to be required.
(e) Continued disbursement to certified candidates. Within three business days after the Board certifies the results of the primary election, the Board shall authorize the Controller to continue to disburse the appropriate public contribution for the general election to each certified candidate who is certified to be on the ballot for a contested election in the general election.
(f) Nomination by petition. A certified candidate nominated by petition may receive a public contribution for a contested election in the general election if:
(1) the candidate’s nomination is certified by the Board; and
(2) the candidate did not participate in a primary election.
(g) Proof of qualifying contributions. A participating candidate shall submit a receipt for each qualifying contribution to the Board to receive a public contribution. The Controller shall disburse the appropriate public contribution into a participating candidate’s publicly funded campaign account within three business days after the Board authorizes the public contribution.
(h) General election contributions. A candidate may receive a public contribution during the general election for a qualifying contribution received during the primary election after the candidate has received the maximum public contribution for the primary election if the candidate is otherwise eligible to receive public contributions during the general election.
(i) Participating candidates not certified to be on ballot. Within 30 days after the County Board certifies the results of the primary election, a participating candidate who is not certified to be on the ballot for the general election shall return any unspent funds in the candidate’s publicly funded campaign account to the Controller for deposit into the Fund.
(j) Repayment of funds mistakenly disbursed. If the Controller mistakenly disburses a public contribution to a candidate greater than the candidate was entitled to receive, the candidate shall repay the funds mistakenly disbursed within five business days after being notified of the mistake. Any unspent funds returned by a candidate to the Controller after an election may be used as a credit against any repayment required for public contributions mistakenly disbursed to the candidate.
(Bill No. 25-23)