Santa Clara County supervisors reviewed report on school
district filing fees
Gilroy – Santa Clara County won’t be ponying up the cash to cover school board candidates’ filing fees. During Tuesday’s meeting the Board of Supervisors reviewed a report on the fees compiled by the Registrar of Voters.
The report revealed that at $4,850, Santa Clara County school districts charge the highest average filing fees. The average cost of the 11 California counties surveyed was $1,033.
San Francisco is the only county that doesn’t charge a fee to allow candidates to place a statement on the ballot. During the November 2004 election the Gilroy Unified School District charged $1,710 for a 200-word statement and $2,500 for a 400-word account.
Supervisor Don Gage said the board decided to refrain from taking any action. School district’s should cover the costs for their elections, not expect to dip into the county’s coffers.
“If they want to lower their fees it’s up to them,” Gage said.
The supervisor pointed out that when he ran for office he paid the $1,200 filing fee and the county didn’t charge him for the ballot statement. If the school districts want more candidates to include a candidate statement on the ballot, they should eliminate the fee, he said.
