Developer-linked political action committees dropped more than $200,000 into the last Folsom City Council race, swamping the $150 maximum that individual residents are allowed to give. A 2026 ad hoc charter review committee now wants that limit raised to $750, arguing that higher individual caps would help neighborhood donors and new candidates better compete with outside spending. The fight over who bankrolls Folsom politics has put a fresh spotlight on how builders and industry groups shape decisions on growth and city services.
Tom Aceituno, a member of the charter committee and a former councilmember, told the Sacramento Bee, "It's been going on forever." The paper reports that Aceituno and others say increasing the cap would give residents more financial leverage against PAC spending. That reporting has prompted renewed discussion among council members and residents about how much outside money should influence city elections.
Committee Sends Proposal To City Council
The 2026 Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee voted to recommend that the City Council submit a ballot measure to increase Folsom Municipal Code Section 2.48.030 from $150 to $750 and forwarded its report to the council for consideration. The committee's materials show it voted 7-0 on the recommendation and also flagged related changes about council compensation, the city attorney's reporting structure, and boards and commissions, according to the City of Folsom.
Numbers: PAC Dollars vs. Small Donors
Independent expenditures by political action committees topped $200,000 in the most recent council race, dwarfing what individual residents can give under the current $150 cap.
