The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved a $25,000 limit on campaign contributions at a nearly three-hour-long meeting on Friday.
That $25,000 cap is more than five times the $4,700 limit set by the state. Local agencies have until the end of this year to set their own limits or they will be bound to the $4,700 state cap.
Supervisors voted 3-1 to pass the ordinance with District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson dissenting.
Hundreds of community members called in and sent messages opposing the ordinance.
"We've heard 700 to one," Gibson said. "I have never seen public comment, in 14 years on this board, I have never seen public comment go 700 to one against us doing this."
District 4 Supervisor and Board Chair Lynn Compton responded that she was taking into consideration that some community groups had sent "action alerts" encouraging people to call or write in.
The ordinance will apply to campaign contributions from both individuals and organizations to people running for the Board of Supervisors, County Assessor, County Clerk-Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, and Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator.
