LWV League of Women Voters of California
Smart Voter
San Francisco County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
Measure Q
Use of City Funds
County of San Francisco

Ordinance

131,117 / 67.26% Yes votes ...... 63,822 / 32.74% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Full Text

Shall the City prohibit recipients of City contracts, grants and loans from using City funds for political campaigns, and require at least ten audits each year to check for compliance?

Summary Prepared by Ballot Simplification Committee:
The Way it is Now:
No City law specifically prohibits City contractors or the recipients of City grants and loans from using City funds to participate in political campaigns. The Controller can audit City contracts, grants and loans, but is not required to do so.

The Proposal:
Proposition Q is an ordinance that would prohibit City contractors and the recipients of City grants and loans from using City funds to participate in, support or attempt to influence a political campaign for any candidate or measure. Using City funds for such purposes would violate the contract, grant or loan. The violator would be barred for two years from receiving any City contract, grant or loan, and could face other penalties. Proposition Q would require the Controller to audit at least ten City contractors or recipients of City grants and loans each year, to verify that no City funds were used for political purposes.

Fiscal Impact from Controller, Edward M. Harrington:
Should the proposed initiative be approved by the voters, in my opinion there would be no significant increase in the cost of government.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
If you vote "Yes," you want to prohibit City contractors and recipients of City grants and loans from using City funds to participate in political campaigns, and require audits to check for compliance.

A NO vote of this measure means:
If you vote "No," you do not want to make these changes.

  General Links for More Information

How to Evaluate the Propositions
Decide for yourself
Suggest a link related to Measure Q
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Full Text of Measure Q
PROPOSITION _Q_____

The Mayor hereby orders submitted to the qualified electors of the City and County of San Francisco, for the November 5, 2002 election, the following Ordinance amending the San Francisco Administrative Code. This Ordinance, if approved by a majority of such electors at such election, would prohibit the use for political activity of any funds appropriated by the City and County of San Francisco for contracts, grants and loans.

Note: Additions are single-underline italics Times New Roman.

Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco:

Section 1. The San Francisco Administrative Code is amended by adding Chapter 12G to read as follows: CHAPTER 12G. PROHIBITION ON USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY RECIPIENTS OF CITY CONTRACTS, GRANTS, AND LOANS. SEC. 12G.1. Prohibition. No funds appropriated by the City and County of San Francisco for any contract, grant agreement, or loan agreement may be expended for participating in, supporting, or attempting to influence a political campaign for any candidate or ballot measure. SEC. 12G.2. Audits. The Controller shall annually select for audit at least ten (10) persons or entities that enter into contracts, grant agreements, or loan agreements with the City in order to ensure compliance with this section. SEC. 12G.3. Rules and Regulations. (a) The Controller shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for the implementation of this section. (b) All contracts, grant agreements, and loan agreements shall incorporate this Chapter by reference. SEC. 12G.4. Penalties. If the Controller determines that any recipient of a contract, grant agreement, or loan agreement has violated this Chapter, the violation shall be deemed a material breach of the contract, grant agreement, or loan agreement and the recipient of the contract, grant agreement, or loan agreement shall be barred for two years from receiving any City contract, grant agreement, or loan agreement.


San Francisco Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: December 6, 2002 03:15 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://ca.lwv.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.