Tahoma School District: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 by using public facilities to process employee contributions to the WEA-PAC and the NEA-FCPE. (June 18)

Case

#37408

Respondent

Tahoma School District

Complainant

Freedom Foundation (Maxford Nelsen)

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed by Maxford Nelson on June 20, 2018 and the additional information provided on September 3, 2018. The complaint alleged that the Tahoma School District may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using school district facilities to process district employee voluntarily withheld contributions designated for the Washington Education Association's Political Action Committee (WEA-PAC), a political committee registered with the PDC, and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Education (NEA-FCPE).

PDC staff reviewed the allegations listed in the complaint, PDC statutes, rules, and Interpretation #01-03, and the August 28, 2018 response from Lauren C. McElroy, an attorney with Porter, Foster and Rorick, LLP on behalf of the client, Tahoma School District.

The Tahoma School District processes employee payroll deductions and other employee voluntary withholdings as part of the "normal and regular conduct" of the school district. No evidence was found that the district provided any preferential treatment concerning district employee's withholding of funds designated for the WEA-PAC and NEA-FCPE, and any other district employee withholdings for charitable contributions, deferred compensation, etc.

Staff has determined that in this instance, no evidence supports a finding of a material violation warranting further investigation. The PDC has closed the matter, and will not be conducting a more formal investigation into your complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this case.

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

July 02, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555