Note: As Ann Arbor has never had a Fair Election Fund, all text is a new addition to the city charter. No existing charter language is deleted.

Proposed Ballot Question

It is proposed that the City Charter be amended to add Section 13.17 to provide for a continuing and non-lapsing Fair Elections Fund with three-tenths of one percent of the City's general fund, as appropriated by City Council for the purpose of public financing for participating candidates for Council and Mayor who voluntarily agree to received contributions in lower amounts and only from natural persons. Shall this proposed amendment to the Ann Arbor City Charter be adopted?

Proposed City Charter Amendment

Fair Elections Fund

SECTION 13.17.

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the campaign finance laws of the State shall control all procedures relating to campaign funds in local City elections. 

(b) In the event State law allows for the public financing of elections under the terms of this section, the City shall establish a fund and make it available to any candidate for Council or Mayor who qualifies under the terms of this section.

(c) A continuing and non-lapsing Fair Elections Fund is established with an annual allocation of three-tenths of one percent of the City's general fund budget. The Fair Elections fund will be available to any candidate for Council or Mayor who chooses to participate by:

1. Adhering to a lower limit on individual campaign contributions: 25% of amounts set by MCL 169.252 and

2. Receiving campaign contributions from only natural persons or the “individual” MCL 169.211(2) and

3. Documenting small donor contributions $50 and under in the aggregate that are received from individual eligible voters and taxpayers in the City of Ann Arbor.

(d) The Fair Elections Fund will provide 900% matching funds for documented small donor contributions to individual candidates within ten business days of receiving documentation from a candidate. An individual candidate may receive up to the following total amounts from the Fair Elections Fund: 

Council: $40,000

Mayor:   $90,000

Beginning January 1, 2028 and every 4 years thereafter, the City will adjust the dollar value of small donor contribution and matching limits provided in sections (c)(3) and (d). This adjustment will be commensurate with 2% more than the percentage increase or decrease in the consumer price index for the preceding August compared with the corresponding consumer price index 4 years earlier.

(e) Annual allocation to the Fair Elections Fund may be waived by two thirds (8) vote of Council due to fiscal emergency as defined by a 2% drop in general fund revenue. Approval of a waiver applies to one year, only. At the end of each mayoral election cycle, 75% of all that remains in the Fair Elections Fund will return to the general fund.

(f)If any portion of this section shall be found to be invalid by a court, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions or applications of the section which can be given effect without the invalid portion or application, provided such remaining portions are not determined by the court to be inoperable, and to this end acts are declared to be severable.