Kennewick Citizens Levy & Bond Comm; Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for not disclosing expenditures & contributions timely & accurately on C3 & C4 Reports (EY23, July 23)

Case

#139467

Respondent

Kennewick Citizens Levy & Bond Committee

Complainant

PDC Staff

Description

The PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1) and will not continue its formal investigation into this allegation or take further enforcement action in this matter.

Pat Mastaler, Chair and authorized representative of the Kennewick Citizens Levy & Bond Committee (the Committee), completed a Statement of Understanding (SOU) and paid a $150 civil penalty in accordance with WAC 390-37-143 (Brief Enforcement Penalty Schedule), acknowledging a violation of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 by not timely and accurately disclosing expenditures and contributions on the Receipts & Expenditure Summary (C-4) report and the Cash Receipts, Monetary Contributions (C-3) report. Specific activity addressed in the SOU included:

the Committee filed twenty C-3 reports in June 2023, past the applicable submission deadlines and at least three months after the February 2023 election. The contributions received were primarily ongoing small contributions from school district staff and totaled $7,936.00.
the Committee filed seven C-4 reports in June 2023, past the applicable submission deadlines and at least three months after the February 2023 election. At least three of these C-4 reports reported consequential expenditures of the Committee that would have been of interest to the public during the time of the campaign, to include:

C-4 #110152664, period 12/1/22-1/23/23 for $4,719.93 for postcards printing and mailing.
C-4 #110152670, period 1/24/23-2/6/23 for $427.34 for signs distribution.
C-4 #110152696 (amended), period 2/7/23-2/28/23 for $1,868.60 for robo calls.

PDC staff expects that, in the future, you follow all applicable PDC laws, rules and guidance when reporting contributions and expenditures. If violations of PDC laws or rules occur in the future, the Commission will consider this SOU in deciding on further Commission action.

Disposition

Resolved through Statement of Understanding

Date Opened

July 11, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

Penalties

Total penalties: $150

Balance Due: $0

Kennewick Citizens Levy & Bond Comm

Penalty

$150 (Statement of Understanding)

Payments

$150 on 08/16/2023 (PAID - SOU)