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Home My WebLink About081610_ra02 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of Commissioners FROM: Philip Morley, Connty Adminilltrato ,- '- DATE: August 16,2010 RE: Prosecuting Attorney Briefing on Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns STATEMENT OF ISSUE: On August 10, 2010, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 032-10 calling for an election on the levy of a County special purpose sales and use tax for public safety, youth and senior services, community services, and basic govemment public services. This matter has been placed on the November 2, 2010 General Election ballot as Proposition # 1. RCW 42.17.130 contains a statutory prohibition on the use of public facilities for campaigns, including ballot measures. The WA State Public Disclosure Commission's (or PDC) publishes guidelines that inform all persons connected with a local govermnent, be they elected or appointed officials or staff, what is and is not permitted activity with respect to any type of election, be it a race for a position or a ballot proposition. The Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney has been asked by the County Commission and the County Administrator to provide a briefing as to what would and would not be permitted activity surrounding Proposition #1 and a potential increase in the sales and use tax. ANALYSIS: To reduce the risk of inadvertent use of public facilities for or against the current ballot proposition, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office will provide information on prohibited and allowed activities by the Board of County Commissioners, elected officials, and county staff. While normal and regular conduct of any county business, including the sharing of information, is allowed, advocacy for or against a ballot measure generally is not. A copy ofPDC Interpretation Number 04-02, "Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns" is enclosed for your reference. FISCAL IMPACT: No impact. This is a briefing. RECOMMENDATION: Receive the briefing from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. ~;;'*fD Date 3'&,QWHUSUHWDWLRQ $33529$/'$7(180%(5 6HSWHPEHU 67$786683(56('(6 $SSURYHG,QWHUSUHWDWLRQ 5()(5(1&(6$33529('%< 5&: