•When should a Campaign Treasurer be designated?

•What is the difference between an Officeholder and Candidate for Municipal Office?

•What is a Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee?

•What are the qualifications to serve as a Campaign Treasurer?

•Who must file Campaign Finance Reports?

•When are Campaign Finance Reports due?

•Do I still have to submit a Campaign and Expenditure Report if I have no reportable activity?

•Do I still have to submit a Campaign and Expenditure Report if I am not involved in the election?

•What is a Final Report?

•Does the City of San Antonio have contribution limits?

•What are the Municipal Contribution Cycles?

•What is the difference between Municipal Contribution Cycles and Texas Ethics Commission Reporting Periods?

•How do I submit my Campaign Finance Reports?

•Is there anything else that I need to submit?

•Where can I obtain more information on State and Municipal Campaign Finance Requirements?

When should a Campaign Treasurer be designated?
A Campaign Treasurer may be designated at any time with the Office of the City Clerk. However, in accordance with Texas Election Code, Officeholders, Candidates, and Specific-Purpose Political Action Committees may not accept any campaign contributions or make any campaign expenditures (including paying filing fees) until a Campaign Treasurer has been designated.

Take note, that not even personal funds may be expended for campaign purposes without first appointing a Campaign Treasurer.

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What is the difference between an Officeholder and Candidate for Municipal Office?
Once an individual takes affirmative action to seek an elective office, he/is is considered to be a Candidate for Municipal Office.

Examples of affirmative action include filing a Campaign Treasurer Appointment and filing an Application for a Place on the Ballot.

Please refer to Section 251.001 of the Texas Election Code for a complete list of definitions.

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What is a Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee?
A Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee is a committee that is created to support or oppose a Candidate for Municipal Office or is created to support or oppose a Municipal ballot measure.

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What are the qualifications to serve as a Campaign Treasurer?
There are no qualifications to serve as a Campaign Treasurer. However, a person is ineligible for appointment as a Campaign Treasurer if the person is the Campaign Treasurer of a Political Action Committee and has outstanding filing obligations (including outstanding penalties).

To obtain more detailed information regarding qualifications to serve as a Campaign Treasurer, please review Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File With Local Filing Authorities.

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Who must file Campaign Finance Reports?
Campaign Finance Reports are required to be submitted by Officeholders, Candidates, and Specific-Purpose Political Action Committees once a Campaign Treasurer has been designated. Reports are required to be submitted regardless if an Officeholder, Candidate, or Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee has no political activity to report.

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When are Campaign Finance Reports due?
During an Election
In the calendar year in which candidates are to be elected or when ballot measures are to be voted on, Candidates and Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee Treasurers are required to submit Campaign Finance Reports Semi-Annually, 30 days before the Election, and 8 days before the Election. In addition, the City of San Antonio requires a report to be submitted 3 days before the Election. This report should only list contributions accepted until 5 pm on the 4th day before the Election.

During a Run-off Election
In the case of a Run-off Election, a Campaign Finance Report is also required to be submitted 8 days before the Run-off Election. In addition, the City of San Antonio requires a report to be submitted 3 days before the Election. This report should only list contributions accepted until 5 pm on the 4th day before the Run-off Election.

No Election scheduled
In the calendar year in which there is no scheduled Municipal Election; Officeholders, Candidates, and Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee Treasurers are required to submit Campaign Finance Reports Semi-Annually.

The deadline to submit reports is 5 pm on date the report is due regardless if the report is submitted electronically or hardcopy.

For a complete list of Contribution and Expenditure Reports to be submitted and their respective due date, please refer to the attached document.

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Do I still have to submit a Campaign and Expenditure Report if I have no reportable activity?
Yes. Campaign Finance Reports must be filed in accordance with State and Municipal Campaign Finance requirements regardless if an Officeholder, Candidate, or Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee has any reportable political activity.

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Do I still have to submit a Campaign and Expenditure Report if I am not involved in the election?
Yes. Campaign Finance Reports must be filed in accordance with State and Municipal Campaign Finance requirements until such time as a Final Report is submitted and all money has been expended. Withdrawing from an election, being disqualified as a candidate, being defeated in an election, being affected by term limitations, or having no reportable political activity does not absolve an Officeholder, Candidate or a Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee from the requirement to file timely reports. Only the submission of a complete Final Report releases you from the obligation to file reports.

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What is a Final Report?
This is a Campaign and Expenditure Report where the Campaign Treasurer Appointment is terminated and denotes that the candidate does not intend to collect or spend any funds related to the election and all contributions have been expended.

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Does the City of San Antonio have contribution limits?
Yes. Cumulative contributions received from any single donor during any single Municipal Contribution Cycle cannot exceed $500 for a City Council Candidate or Officeholder and $1,000 for a Mayoral Candidate or Officeholder. Contribution limits extend to Specific-Purpose Political Action Committees formed to support Candidates.

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What are the Municipal Contribution Cycles?
As denoted in Section 2-301 of Municipal Campaign Finance Regulations, there are (3) three Municipal Contribution Cycles.
1. Pre-Election Contribution Cycle: July 1 of the year before the Election and ending on the date of the Election;
2. Run-off Contribution Cycle (if application): The day after the Main Election and ending on the date of the Run-off Election;
3. Post Election Contribution Cycle: The day after the Election (Main or Run-off) and ending on June 30 of the year before the Election.

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What is the difference between Municipal Contribution Cycles and Texas Ethics Commission Reporting Periods?
Municipal Contribution Cycles work in conjunction with the State Reporting Periods. However, each has different beginning and ending periods. The Office of the City Clerk has created a document which lists the Municipal Campaign Contribution Cycles, the Contribution and Expenditure Reports required to be submitted, and the periods covered within each Contribution and Expenditure Report. Click here, to view the document.

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How do I submit my Campaign Finance Reports?
In accordance with Municipal Campaign Finance Regulations, Campaign Finance Reports are required to be submitted electronically using the City of San Antonio’s Electronic Filing System. However, the City of San Antonio does allow for Officeholders, Officeholders, or Specific-Purpose Political Action Committee Treasurers to file original hardcopy Campaign and Expenditure Reports if he/she meets certain criteria.

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Is there anything else that I need to submit?
In accordance with Section 2-306 of Municipal Campaign Finance Regulations, Candidates for Municipal Office are required to submit monthly bank statements within five (5) business days of receipt of the statement from the financial institution.
Statements should be delivered to the following address:

Additionally, Chapter 145 of the Local Government Code requires that all Candidates for Municipal Office submit a Personal Financial Statement (PFS) while the City of San Antonio’s Ethics Code requires the submission of a PFS Addendum.

In order for the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot, the Candidate must complete an Application for a Place on the Ballot. For more detailed information regarding the Application process, please refer to “General Election Information and Frequently Asked Questions.”

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Where can I obtain more information regarding State and Municipal Campaign Finance Requirements?
For additional information, please refer to the following guides:
Title 15 of the Texas Election Code
Municipal Campaign Finance Regulations

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