Organization & Disclosure Forms

FOR ALL TOWN-WIDE MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES AND COMMITTEES

Form CPF M 101 – Organization of a Candidate's Committee – Municipal

Although state law does not require a town-wide candidate to have a political committee organized on his or her behalf, many candidates have one. This is particularly so when the candidate is a public employee, since public employees are prohibited by law from political fundraising, even on their own behalf.

The CPF M 101 should be filed with the Town Clerk as soon as the committee is organized. A political committee may not accept any contributions, make any expenditures or incur any liabilities until the treasurer qualifies for the office by completing, signing and filing CPF M 101 with the Office of the Town Clerk.

Form CPF M 102 – Campaign Finance Disclosure Form – Municipal

Every town-wide candidate, his or her political committee, a political action committee or a ballot question committee, is required to file a Form CPF M 102 with the Town Clerk on or before each required reporting date. This report must be signed by the candidate and treasurer, if any, under the penalties of perjury. Candidates are responsible for the legality, validity, timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of each of their reports. The following information should be filed with or on Form CPF M 102:

Schedule A – Receipts

An alphabetical list of all contributions in excess of $50 received within the reporting period, including the amount and date received, the name, and the residential address of the contributor. This information must also be reported for receipts of $50 or less if the total contributions from the individual have exceeded $50 in a calendar year. Otherwise, receipts of $50 or less may be added together on one line and included in total receipts. If the contribution is $200 or more, the occupation and employer of the contributor must be disclosed.

Schedule B – Expenditures

An alphabetical list of all disbursements in excess of $50, including the amount and the date of payment, the name and address of the payee and the purpose of the expenditure. Those expenditures of $50 or less may be added together on one line and included in the total expenditures. However, complete information concerning all expenditure, including date, payee, address, amount and purpose, must be maintained by the candidate or committee regardless of the amount.

Schedule C – In-Kind Contributions

An alphabetical list of all in-kind contributions of anything of value other than money with a value in excess of $50 in a calendar year. This listing includes the date, the name and residential address of each contributor and a description of the contribution. The occupation and employer of any contributor of $200 or more of in-kind goods or services, or a combination of money and goods or services, is also required. In-kind contributions do not include volunteers’ personal services or the exercise of ordinary hospitality.

 Schedule D - Liabilities

An alphabetical list of all outstanding, unpaid obligations as of the last day of the reporting period, regardless of when the liability was incurred. Included is the amount, the date the liability was incurred, the name and address to whom it is due and the purpose of the liability. Liabilities are carried over from each report to the successive report until such time as they are satisfied.

Totals from all of the above categories are summarized in a schedule on the front page of Form CPF M 102. Detailed instructions for completing Form CPF M 102 are available form the Office of Campaign and Political Finance or from the Office of the Town Clerk.

Form CPF M 102-0 – Campaign Finance Disclosure Report (Affidavit) - Municipal

This statement can be used in lieu of filing a Form CPF M 102, and can only be signed by candidates, for a specific reporting period, who have not received any contributions, spent any money or incurred any debts and do not have a political committee organized on their behalf. A Form CPF M 102-0 is available in the Office of the Town Clerk during each reporting period.

FOR TOWN-WIDE CANDIDATES, CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEES AND BALLOT QUESTION COMMITTEES ONLY

Form CPF M 102-S – Supplemental Campaign Finance Report

The Town of Brookline's General By-Laws, in Article 4.9, requires candidates for Town-Wide office and Ballot Question Committees to file an additional supplemental financial disclosure report with the Town Clerk fifteen days prior to the Annual Town Election. This filing is in addition to the disclosure reports required under M.G.L., c. 55 - The Massachusetts Campaign Finance Law. It is filed in substantially the same format and with the same disclosure information, as required in Form CPF M 102.

MISCELLANEOUS FORMS

Form CPF M T 101 - Change/Acceptance of Treasurer

This form is required to be filed immediately with the Town Clerk in order to notify of any change in Treasurer for a committee.

 Schedule E - Disclosure of Assets Statement

This form is a listing of all assets acquired or disposed of during the calendar year that have a useful life of more than one year, would be depreciable in a normal business environment, and have a cost and/or value of $1,000 or more at the time of acquisition. This separate schedule is filed only once each year with the Form CPF M 102, which is due on January 20.

Form CPF R 1 - Campaign Finance Disclosure Report for Itemization of Reimbursements

This financial disclosure report is to itemize all expenditures in excess in excess of $50.00 that the committee or the candidate has reported in Schedule B of Form CPF M 102. This form should be included as an attachment to Schedule B of Form CPF M 102, when necessary, when filing for each reporting period.

Form CPF 102A - Amendment to Financial Disclosure Report

This financial disclosure report is used to amend the previously filed Form CPF M 102, by a committee or a candidate, for a specific reporting period, due to errors or omissions.

REPORTING PERIODS

Pre-Election Reports (15 Days Before) - All Town-Wide Candidates, Candidate's Committees, and Ballot Question Committees

Form CPF M 102-S - Supplemental Campaign Finance Report is due on the 15th day before the Annual Town Election, complete from the day following the ending date of the last report filed through 10 days before the due date. If there is no previous report, then the reporting period should begin on the date of your first receipt, expense or in-kind contribution.

Pre-Election Reports (8 Days Before) - All Town-Wide Candidates, Candidate's Committees, Ballot Question Committees and Political Action Committees

Form CPF M 102 - Campaign Finance Report is due on the 8th day before the Annual Town Election, complete from the day following the ending date of the last report filed through 10 days before the due date. If there is no previous report, then the reporting period should begin on the date of your first receipt, expense or in-kind contribution.

Post-Election Reports (30 Days After) - All Town-Wide Candidates, Candidate's Committees, Ballot Question Committees and Political Action Committees

Form CPF M 102 - Campaign Finance Report is due on the 30th day after the Annual Town Election, complete from the day following the ending date of the last report filed through 10 days before the due date.

Year End Reports - All Town-Wide Candidates, Candidate's Committees, Ballot Question Committees and Political Action Committees

Form CPF M 102 - Campaign Finance Report is due on or before January 20 in the following year, complete from the day following the ending date of the last report filed through December 31. If there is no previous report, then the reporting period should begin on the date of your first receipt, expense or in-kind contribution in that calendar year or on January 1. .A Schedule E – Disclosure of Assets Statement must be filed with this report.