San Francisco Ethics Commission
30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900
San Francisco CA 94102
Phone 581-2300 Fax 581-2317
SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION AUDIT REPORT:
BRIAN MURPHY O’FLYNN FOR SUPERVISOR 2004
I. Introduction
This Audit Report summarizes the results of the audit of the committee, Brian Murphy O’Flynn for Supervisor 2004, Identification Number 1268033 (“the Committee”), for the period from January 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. The audit was conducted to determine whether the Committee materially complied with the requirements of the Political Reform Act (“the Act”) (California Government Code Section 81000, et seq.) and San Francisco’s Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (“CFRO”) and Electronic Filing Ordinance (S.F. Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Sections 1.100, et seq., and 1.300, et seq., respectively).
For the period covered by the audit, the Committee received $40,894 in contributions and $37,735 in public funds, and made $77,353 in total expenditures. The CFRO provides that any candidate who receives public funds must return unexpended campaign funds to the Election Campaign Fund up to the amount of public funds received by the candidate. The Commission staff determined that the Committee does not have unexpended funds and therefore is not required to return any money to the Election Campaign Fund.[1] There were no material findings with respect to this audit.
II. Committee Information
The Committee was formed in August 2004 to support the election of Brian Murphy O’Flynn to Member, Board of Supervisors District 3 in the November 2, 2004 general election. Ronald Jin is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee received public funds for Brian O’Flynn’s 2004 supervisorial election campaign.
III. Audit Authority
San Francisco Charter Section C3.699-11 authorizes the Ethics Commission to audit campaign statements that are filed with the Commission. Section 1.150(a) of the CFRO requires the Commission to audit all candidates who receive public financing. Audits of publicly financed candidates include a review of campaign statements and other relevant documents to determine whether the candidate complied with applicable requirements of State and local law.
IV. Audit Scope and Procedures
This audit was performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The audit involved a thorough review of the Committee’s records for the time period covered by the audit. This review was conducted to determine:
- Compliance with applicable filing deadlines;
- Compliance with restrictions on contributions, loans and expenditures;
- Accuracy of total reported receipts, disbursements and cash balances as compared to bank records;
- Compliance with all record-keeping requirements; and
- Compliance with all provisions related to the Commission’s public financing program.
V. Conclusion
Through the examination of the Committee’s records and campaign disclosure statements, the Auditor verified that the Committee accurately and timely disclosed contributions received and expenditures made and that the Committee maintained the necessary documentation regarding contributions and expenditures. As a result, the Auditor determined that there were no material findings. The Committee substantially complied with the disclosure and record-keeping provisions of the Act and the CFRO.
Audit reports are posted to the Commission’s web site and are forwarded to the members of the Ethics Commission and, in cases of a violation of law, to the appropriate enforcement agency.
Date: November 1, 2005
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[1] Unexpended funds are calculated by subtracting any unpaid bills, on-going qualified campaign expenditures and forfeitures from the amount of cash that the Committee had on hand on the 30th day following the election in which the candidate was elected or defeated.