Surplus Campaign Funds
San Diego Municipal Code § 27.2924
in effect§27.2924 Surplus Campaign Funds
(a) Upon the 90th day after leaving any elected office, or the 90th day following the end of the post-election reporting period following the defeat of a candidate for elective office, whichever occurs last, campaign funds under the control of a candidate shall be considered surplus campaign funds.
(b) After the failure of a recall petition or after the recall election, all remaining controlled committee campaign funds shall be considered surplus campaign funds.
(c) Surplus campaign funds shall be used only for the following purposes:
(1) To pay outstanding campaign debts, as long as any vendor debts are paid within the 180-day period set forth in section 27.2960;
(2) To repay contributions;
(3) To make a donation to any bona fide charitable, educational, civic, religious, or similar tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, where no substantial part of the proceeds will have a material financial effect on the candidate, any member of their immediate family, or their campaign treasurer.
(4) To make a contribution to a political party committee, provided the campaign funds are not used to support or oppose candidates for elective City office. However, the campaign funds may be used by a political party committee to conduct partisan voter registration, partisan get-out-the-vote activities, and slate mailers.
(5) To make a contribution to support or oppose any candidate for federal office, any candidate for elective office in a state other than California, or any ballot measure.
(6) To pay for professional services reasonably required by the candidate or committee to assist in the performance of its administrative functions, including payment for attorney's fees for litigation that arises directly out of a candidate’s activities or their status as a candidate, including, but not limited to, an action to enjoin defamation, defense of an action brought for a violation of state or local campaign, disclosure, or election laws, and an action from an election contest or recount.
(Amended 9-12-2000 by O-18846 N.S.)
(Repealed and added 9-7-2004 by O-19317 N.S.; effective 1-5-2005.)
(Amended 10-27-2008 by O-19795; effective 1-1-2009.)
(Amended 2-9-2016 by O-20595 N.S.; effective 3-10-2016.)
(Amended 6-27-2023 by O-21667 N.S.; effective 7-27-2023.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter02/Ch02Art07Division29.pdf#page=13Fetched: 10/28/2026