WHO HAS TO FILE?
Any school board candidate who receives, spends or incurs debt in excess of
$750 in a calendar year for his or her campaign. This includes personal funds.
Remember that a debt is incurred when an item is ordered.
DO I HAVE TO OPEN A SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNT?
Yes, if you receive any dollars other than your personal funds. You are required
to deposit money received within seven calendar days of receipt. You do not
need a separate banking account if you spend ONLY your personal funds, and do
not accept contributions from anyone else.
WHERE DO I FILE MY REPORTS?
Reports are filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (Board). They may be faxed, filed via the Internet,
hand-delivered, sent as an E-mail attachment, or mailed. If mailed, the January report
must have a U.S. Postal Service postmark dated on or before the due date. All reports due 5 days prior to an election must be on file with the Board by 4:30 p.m. on due date.
WHEN DO I FILE?
File your Statement of Organization (DR-1) within ten days of crossing the $750
financial threshold. This registers your committee. Once you have crossed the threshold,
you will need to file disclosure reports. File a disclosure report five days
before the election (current to five days before the due date), and on the 19th
day of January (current through December 31). In addition, you must file a report
on the 19th day of January of each year your name does not appear on the ballot,
until the committee dissolves (funds spent and final report and Notice of Dissolution
filed). Remember that any report filed 5 days prior to an election must be in the Ethics Board office by 4:30 p.m. of the due date.
FOR THE 2009 SCHOOL ELECTION DATE OF SEPTEMBER 8,
2009:
Election Date - September 8, 2009
If you spend, receive, or incur debts exceeding $750 in a calendar year, you
must file on September 3, 2009. This report covers all activity from the beginning
of your campaign through August 29, 2009.
After the Election
Your next report is due on January 19, 2010.
If your activity is over, you can now dissolve your committee by filing a final
report and a DR-3. You may leave your committee open as long as you wish, so
long as you continue to file reports when due.
If a candidate's name WILL NOT appear on the ballot in 2009, but did appear
in 2008, a report would be filed on January 19, 2010 -- Covering all of 2009.
All report due dates are extended to the next working day if the deadline falls
on a weekend or holiday. The allowable postmark of the January due date is also extended.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO REPORT?
All the money you take in (including personal funds), all the money you spend,
all the debts you incur, and all the donated items or services you receive (in-kind
contributions) are required to be reported. You must ITEMIZE all contributions
over $25 received by your committee from the same person (including your personal
funds) by date received, full name and complete address. You must likewise ITEMIZE
all expenditures of $5 and over by date spent, full name and complete address
of the creditor (list as "unitemized" all receipts and expenses under
these amounts).
HOW DO I REPORT SPENDING PERSONAL FUNDS FOR MY CAMPAIGN?
It is reported as an "in-kind contribution" on Schedule E of the disclosure
report. List the date of the purchase, list your name as the contributor, describe
what you purchased and show the cost. If you wish to be reimbursed for the purchase,
you would show this on Schedule D as a "debt" the committee owes until
repaid or forgiven.
ARE THERE SPENDING RESTRICTIONS?
Campaign funds may be spent only for campaign purposes, constituency services,
and officeholder expenses that do not benefit the candidate or family personally.
Candidates cannot transfer funds to other candidates or to PACs or ballot issue
committees. Funds transferred to political party committees cannot have conditions
attached.
HOW DO I REPORT USE OF ITEMS FROM A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN THAT I SAVED, LIKE CAMPAIGN
SIGNS?
Report these on Schedule E as an in-kind contribution from you to your committee.
Describe the items and list an estimated fair market value of the item.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT FILE, OR FILE LATE?
You'll be automatically assessed a civil penalty (fine) for late filing, ranging
from $20 to $200. Additional civil and criminal sanctions may be imposed.
ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW I CAN RAISE MONEY?
You CANNOT accept contributions from corporations, banks, savings and loan associations,
credit unions, and insurance companies. This restriction includes non-monetary
as well as monetary contributions. You CANNOT accept money anonymously in excess
of $10, nor money contributed in the name of another. If you borrow money for
your campaign, you must identify the lender on your report. If you receive money
from a non-Iowa committee, that committee must include a Verified Statement
Registration.
WHAT IS REQUIRED ON POLITICAL MATERIALS?
Identification of the sponsor of political materials is referred to as an attribution.
Attributions are required on political materials EXCEPT campaign signs of 32
square feet or less (and certain other items discussed below). Attributions
must contain "Paid for by" and the name and address of the person/organization
and name of one officer. If paid for by a registered committee, only the committee
name is required. If the material is paid for before the $750 threshold is crossed,
the attribution must include the name and address of the individual paying for
the material. This includes candidates who have not filed a DR-1 because the
threshold was not crossed. These candidates may file Form DR-SFA to u se the shorter "paid for by" attribution.
The attribution statement must be placed on advertising in newspapers, magazines,
shoppers, direct mailings, brochures, posters, scratch pads, and outdoor advertising.
You are not required to print it on pens, pins, bumper stickers, buttons, matchbooks,
and similar small items (see rules 351 IAC 4.38 through 4.41).
WHEN DOES REPORTING CEASE & THE COMMITTEE DISSOLVES?
By filing the final report (with an ending balance of zero, with all bills paid,
loans paid or forgiven and campaign property disposed of) AND by signing and
filing a Notice of Dissolution (DR-3) form. You continue to have to file reports,
even of zero activity, until you file the Notice of Dissolution form and it
is approved by the Board.
* indicates recent changes
DISCLAIMER:
This brochure is intended for general guidance and is not a restatement of the laws or rules and is not legal advice. See chapter 68A and the Board's rules in chapter 351 of the Iowa Administrative Code or contact the Board for further guidance.
Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board
510 E. 12th, Suite 1A
Des Moines, IA 503109
(515) 281-4028
(515) 281-4073 report fax line
(515) 281-3701 general fax
www.iowa.gov/ethics
