Contribution Limits, Spending Limits, and Public Funds Requirements

Contribution Limits | Spending Limits | Thresholds | Maximum Public Funds

For All Candidates
The following contribution restrictions and limits apply to all candidates, both Program participants and non-participants, except where noted.

Contribution Limits
Mayor	Public Advocate	Comptroller	Borough President	City Council

$4,950	$4,950	$4,950	$3,850	$2,750
These limits are for the primary and general elections combined. Both monetary and “in-kind” contributions of goods and services are subject to these limits. All candidates – participants and non-participants alike – are prohibited from accepting contributions from corporations (including professional corporations or “P.C.’s”), LLCs, and partnerships (including LLPs). Participants only: Candidates participating in the Program may contribute up to three times the applicable contribution limit to their own campaign (nonparticipants are not limited in the amount that they may contribute to their own campaign). In addition, candidates participating in the Program are prohibited from accepting contributions from political committees (including PACs) that are not registered with the Campaign Finance Board.

Beginning February 2, 2008, candidates – both participants and non-participants alike – will be strictly limited in the amount of money they can accept from individuals “doing business” with the City of New York. For additional information visit Frequently Asked Questions About Doing Business Contributions.

Doing Business Contribution Limits
Mayor	Public Advocate	Comptroller	Borough President	City Council

$400	$400	$400	$320	$250
These “doing business” contribution limits are for the primary and general elections combined. Both monetary and “in-kind” contributions of goods and services are subject to these limits.

For Program Participants Only
The following information on spending limits, thresholds, and public funds applies only to Program participants. Non-participants are not subject to Campaign Finance Board expenditure limits and are not eligible to receive public funds.

Spending Limits*

Mayor

Public Advocate
& Comptroller

Borough President

City Council

2006-2008†

$290,000

$129,000

$43,000

2009 Primary Election††

$6,158,000

$3,850,000

$1,386,000

$161,000

2009 General Election

$6,158,000

$3,850,000

$1,386,000

$161,000

Note: As a result of legislation passed in 2007, only the following are now exempt from the spending limits: (i) ballot petition litigation and canvassing of election results; (ii) bringing or responding to any action, proceeding, claim, or suit before a court, arbitrator, or administrative agency regarding a candidate’s compliance with the Campaign Finance Act
or election law; and (iii) expenses related to the post-election audit. These categories will be construed narrowly by the Board to exclude necessary and routine compliance expenses such as legal and accounting fees and the cost of record creation and retention.

*	If a participant runs against a well-financed non-participant, the spending limit for that election is increased or lifted.
†	Spending in excess of these amounts will be charged against the first limit applicable in 2009.
††	If no primary election is held there is no primary election spending limit.

In return for abiding by the above limits and meeting the relevant threshold below...

Thresholds

Mayor

Public Advocate
& Comptroller

Borough President

City Council

Dollar Amount

$250,000

$125,000

$10,000 – 49,307*

$5,000

Minimum Number of Contributors

1,000

500

100†

75††

Candidates must meet this two-part threshold, abide by the Program's requirements, and face opposition on the ballot to qualify for public financing.

Only the first $175 of a contribution counts toward meeting dollar amount threshold.

For Borough President, the threshold dollar amount is based upon the number of persons living in each borough. The dollar amount (based on the 2000 census) for each borough is: Bronx, $26,653; Brooklyn, $49,307; Manhattan, $30,744; Queens, $44,588; and Staten Island, $10,000.

†

Must be borough residents

††

Must be district residents

...candidates may qualify to receive public matching funds up to...

Maximum Public Funds*

Mayor

Public Advocate

Comptroller

Borough President

City Council

$3,386,900

$2,117,500

$762,300

$88,550

$4,105,333†

$2,566,667†

$924,000†

$107,333†

$7,697,500††

$4,812,500††

$1,732,500††

$201,250††

The Program matches each dollar a NYC resident gives, up to $175, with six dollars in public funds, for a maximum of $1,050 in public funds per contributor.

*	Per election, in election year.
†	Maximum public funds under Tier 1 bonus situation for candidates facing a well-financed non-participant.
††	Maximum public funds under Tier 2 bonus situation for candidates facing a well-financed non-participant.

For more information on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 bonus situations, contact the Candidate Services Unit at (212) 306-7100, or by e-mail at csumail@nyccfb.info.