A. No person other than a candidate shall make a contribution in excess of $410.00 to a candidate for a single election contest. No candidate shall solicit or accept a contribution in excess of $410.00 from a person for a single election contest. A candidate may receive up to $410.00 from a person in each of the general and special elections. The contribution limit in this subsection shall be adjusted biannually pursuant to subsection (D) of this section.

B. No political party committee, as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 85205, shall make a contribution in excess of $1,410 to a candidate for a single election contest. No candidate shall solicit or accept a contribution in excess of $1,410 from a political party committee for a single election contest. A candidate may receive up to $1,410 from a political party committee in each of the general and special elections. The contribution limit in this subsection shall be adjusted biannually pursuant to subsection (D) of this section.

C. No organization shall make a contribution to any candidate or candidate-controlled campaign committee. This chapter shall not apply to contributions made to a committee that is organized solely for the purpose of supporting or opposing the qualification for the ballot or adoption of one or more City measures. All contributions made by a person whose contribution activity is financed, maintained or controlled by an organization or any other person shall be deemed to be made by that organization or other person. If the contribution is deemed made by an organization, it is prohibited.

D. The contribution limits set forth in this section shall be adjusted every odd-numbered year, starting in 2013. The City Clerk shall adjust the contribution limits to reflect any changes in the Consumer Price Index for the San Diego area for the two-year period ending on December 31st of the previous year. Adjustments shall be rounded to the nearest $10.00. The City Clerk shall publish a public notice of any adjustments by March 1st of each odd-numbered year, or as soon after as practicable, following the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ release of the applicable Consumer Price Index data. The adjustments shall go into effect as soon as the public notice is published but shall apply only to elections held in subsequent years. The adjustments shall not be construed to raise the contribution limits applicable to past elections or to special elections held in the same year that the limits are adjusted.

E. No person shall make a contribution to any candidate and no such candidate shall accept from any person such a contribution sooner than 11 months preceding a single election contest.

F. A contribution for an election may be accepted by a candidate after the date of the election only to the extent that the contribution does not exceed net debts outstanding from the election, and the contribution does not otherwise exceed the applicable contribution limit for that election.

G. A candidate may not solicit or accept contributions for a special election prior to the holding of the general election for that office.

H. A candidate may carry over contributions raised in connection with one election for City elective office to pay campaign expenditures incurred in connection with a subsequent election for the same City elective office. If, as a result of redistricting, a candidate’s residence is assigned to a different district, the candidate may carry over contributions raised prior to City Council approval of the new district map to pay expenditures in connection with campaigning for election to the newly assigned district seat; provided, however, if the election for the newly assigned district seat will be held at the subsequent election cycle, the candidate choosing to carry over contributions raised to fund campaign activities for such subsequent election must discontinue any and all fundraising activities immediately upon City Council approval of the new district map creating re-assignment until fundraising for such subsequent election contest is authorized as provided in subsection (E) of this section.

I. The contribution limitations of this section are not limitations on expenditures and shall not be construed to limit the expenditures by any candidate, person or committee. (Ord. 3543 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3506 § 1, 2021; Ord. 3499 § 1, 2021; Ord. 3452 § 1, 2019; Ord. 3399 § 1, 2017; Ord. 3340 § 1, 2015; Ord. 3276 § 1, 2013; Ord. 3262 § 1, 2013; Ord. 3179 § 1, 2011; Ord. 3086 § 1, 2007).