COUNCIL AGENDA: 9/16/2025
FILE: 2 5-966
ITEM: 2.7
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Toni J. Taber, MMC CITY COUNCIL City Clerk
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF ADJUSTED DATE: August 27, 2025
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
LIMITS
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution approving the campaign contribution limits adjusted in accordance with San José Municipal Code Section 12.06.210.E.
OUTCOME
Approval of the recommendation will update the campaign contribution limits to adjust for any cost of living increase, as required under San Jose Municipal Code (“SJMC”) Section
12.06.210.E, for the Primary Municipal Election on June 2, 2026 and the Run-off Municipal Election on November 3, 2026.
If the resolution is adopted, the contribution limit for candidates, except the Mayor, running for City Council in 2026 will increase to $800.00 per donor. The mayoral contribution limit and the Total Election Contest or Recount contribution limits for council member candidates will increase to $1,600.00 per donor (See SJMC § 12.06.210.E.2.)
BACKGROUND
On March 5, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance 30231 amending section 12.06.210 of Title 12 of the San José Municipal Code (SJMC) in response to the State moving up the statewide primary election to March of even numbered years.
As amended, Section 12.06.210.E directs the City Clerk to determine 280 days before the regularly scheduled primary municipal election if the cost of living, as shown on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, has increased during the “adjustment period.” The “adjustment period” is the CPI reported for the month of December 2010 and the CPI reported for the month that is at least two hundred and eighty days (280) days before the regularly scheduled primary municipal election. If the CPI has increased for the applicable “adjustment period,” the City Clerk must multiply the current contributions limits by the percentage increase for the adjustment period. If the calculation results in an amount that is higher than the previously established contribution limits, when rounded to the nearest $100.00, the City Clerk is to recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution adjusting the
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
August 27, 2025
Subject: Campaign Contribution
contribution limits. If the Council adopts the resolution, the City Clerk is to publish the adjusted contribution limits at least 190 days before the regularly scheduled primary municipal election.
ANALYSIS
On August 27, 2025, 280 days before the June 2, 2026 election, the City Clerk accessed the reported CPI through the Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news- release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm. The CPI change is calculated by subtracting the CPI from December 2010 from the current CPI, then dividing to find the percentage change.
That percentage change is then applied to the base contribution limit of $500.
CPI Change
CPI for June 2025 356.46
Less CPI for December 2010 227.658
Equals index point change 128.802
Divided by December 2010 CPI 227.658
Equals 56.58%
Contribution Limits
Base Amount Base
Amt
CPI %
Change
Base + CPI
Change
Rounded to nearest
$100
Councilmember $500 56.58% $782.88 $800
Mayor & Post-Election
Contribution Limit
$1000 56.58% $565.77 $1600
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW UP
Pursuant to San José Municipal Code 12.06.210.E.3, if the Resolution is adopted, the City Clerk will publish a notice of the updated contribution limits in the paper at least 190 days before the primary municipal election.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This item will be published with the agenda for September 16, 2025 which is publicly available on our website.
COORDINATION
This memo was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION/INPUT
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
August 27, 2025
Subject: Campaign Contribution
The Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices reviewed the proposed amendments to San Jose Municipal Code Section 12.06.210 on August 8, 2018, but did not review the City Clerk’s calculation of the adjusted contribution limits.
CEQA
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Organization & Administrative Activities resulting in no change to the physical environment.
TONI J. TABER, MMC
City Clerk
For questions please contact Toni J. Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.