TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Linda A. Nemeroff, District Secretary
SUBJECT: Review of Board Policy 140
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider review of Board Policy 140 - Candidates’ Statement of Qualifications Cost with no recommended amendments.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
The act of amending this policy has no strategic importance.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary/fiscal impact associated with this report. Any future impact on the District’s operating budget is dependent on whether the Board decides to change the existing fee structure.
For reference the cost to typeset, translate, print, bind and mail candidates’ statements for the 2020 election was approximately $35,000. Candidates paid a total of $11,700.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The Board is required to review Board Policy 140 biennially in non-election years. Among other things, this policy sets forth the fees that will be charged to candidates running for elective office on the AC Transit Board of Directors associated with the publication of a candidates statement. In 2017, the Board opted to increase the fees charged to candidates to the following: $1,000 for ward candidates; and $3,350 for at-large candidates.
The fees that are currently being charged by other special districts have not changed since the last review of the policy and are shown below in Table 1. These are flat fees applicable to all candidates who file a candidate’s statement.
Table 1:
|
Agency |
Payment |
Fee |
|
BART |
Candidate pays deposit; district pays the balance |
$ 750 |
|
East Bay MUD |
Candidate pays deposit; district pays the balance |
$1,000 |
|
East Bay Regional Park District |
Candidate pays deposit; district pays the balance |
$1,000 |
|
Alameda County Water Agency |
Candidate pays deposit; district pays the balance |
$1,995 |
While the District Secretary is not recommending any amendments to the policy, the Board may determine otherwise given the rising overall cost of conducting a Board election. Should the Board decide to amend any aspect of the policy, the District Secretary would prepare a new resolution which would be brought back to the Board at a subsequent meeting for consideration. A copy of the current policy (resolution) is provided in Attachment 1 of this report.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
This report does not recommend a course of action with notable advantages and disadvantages.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
The District Secretary has reviewed scenarios presented to the Board in previous years and based on the approved increase in 2017 and what other agencies are charging, has opted not to make a recommendation to increase or lower the current fees.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Board Policy 140: Candidates’ Statement of Qualifications Costs/Resolution No. 17-045
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Board Policy 140: Candidates’ Statement of Qualifications Costs/Resolution No. 17-045
Prepared by:
Jelena Harada, Assistant District Secretary
Approved/Reviewed by:
Linda A. Nemeroff, District Secretary
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel