Republican Party of Lamar County
Republican Party of Lamar County Bylaws
As amended January 5, 2016
Article I
SECTION 1: Qualifications for Participation in Party Actions
All qualified voters under the laws of the State of Georgia, who are residents of Lamar County, Georgia, and who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, believe in its declaration of policy, and are in sympathy of its aims and purposes, may participate as members of the Republican Party in its Conventions or Mass Meetings in their respective jurisdictions. Requirements for voting and holding offices are specified in ARTICLE II, Section 3 and Section 13.
SECTION 2: Terms used for gender
At all times, the terms used in the masculine gender in these rules shall also constitute the feminine gender.
Article II
County Organization
SECTION 1: County Committee
There shall be a committee officially known as the Republican County Committee of Lamar County, Georgia, hereinafter designated as the "County Committee". Meetings shall be held upon written notice mailed at least seven (7) days in advance. Said Committee shall meet at such times as necessary on the call of the Chairman or one-third (1/3) of the members of said Committee; however, in no event shall such called meetings be conducted on a less than quarterly basis. A quorum of the County Committee shall be a majority of the members of said Committee.
SECTION 2: Membership of County Committee
The County Committee shall be composed of the Party Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected from the County at large by the County Convention duly assembled and one member from each of the four (4) County Voting Precincts (Election Districts), who shall be the duly elected Precinct Chairmen. In the event a precinct has more than one polling place or sub-precinct, each sub-precinct may have its own Chairman, but there shall only be one vote per precinct.
The following shall be non-voting ex-officio members of the County Committee: All Republican office holders who represent any political subdivision that is within the jurisdiction of the County Committee, and the President, or their representation, of any Republican organization within Lamar County whose rules and members have been certified and charted.
All members of the County Committee shall have voting rights except as specified in these bylaws.
SECTION 3: Eligibility to Hold an Office & Removal of County Committee Members
A. Eligibility to Hold an Office - Anyone who wishes to be considered for a Lamar County Republican Party Office or as a Convention Delegate must have paid his dues to the Lamar County Republican Party no later than thirty (30) days before the convention. Elected officials or candidates for elected office are not eligible to hold office in the Lamar County Republican Party.
B. Removal of County Committee Members - Any member may be removed from office for cause by a process that adheres to the State Republican Party rules, Paragraph 8.16, Removal from Office.
SECTION 4: Filling Vacancies
In the event of vacancies created by any cause in the Executive Committee or the County Committee, the County Committee shall promptly fill such vacancies by a majority vote.
SECTION 5: Duties of the County Committee
The County Committee shall be vested with all the duties, power and privileges possessed by the County Convention and shall act for the Republican Party in the County.
The County Committee shall call the County Convention and the Election District (Precincts) Mass Meetings or County Primary, make arrangements therefore, fix the basis of representation by delegates to the County Convention consistent with the State Rules and the time and place for the holding of the County Convention. It shall cooperate with all the State Committee and its District Committee in conducting all elections within its boundaries. It shall decide all controversies and contests arising within its jurisdiction, with the right to appeal to the District Committee. Appeals may be taken to the District Committee within thirty (30) days after the decision is appealed by petitions signed by at least five (5) qualified Republican voters of the political unit affected. The County Committee may provide in its rules for the County Executive Committee with such powers as may be provided in its rules.
Qualified Republican voters shall be defined as those who voted in the most recent Republican Primary Election.
SECTION 6: Precinct Chairmen
Unless Precinct Chairmen have been elected at Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings as hereinafter provided, the County Committee may elect such Precinct Chairmen as the business of the Party may require.
SECTION 7: Attendance required at County Committee and Executive Committee Meetings
Members of the County Committee and Executive Committee missing three (3) consecutive meetings will automatically lose their Committee post regardless of sending a proxy. The Chairman of the Lamar County Republican Party may waive this bylaw as circumstances may require. Ex-officio members are excluded from the above bylaw.
SECTION 8: Election/Appointment of Officers and Members of County Committee and Terms of Office for Same
A. (1) The Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected bi-annually, in odd numbered years, by the County Convention.
(2) The four (4) Election District (Precinct) Chairmen shall be elected at the Precinct Mass Meetings, in odd numbered years, and shall thereafter serve as members.
(3) The County Chairman, with approval of a majority of the County Executive Committee, may appoint a Parliamentarian, a Finance Chairman, a Membership Chairman and such other persons as he deems appropriate and necessary to serve as ex-officio members.
(4) Additional members shall be elected by the County Committee whenever same shall be necessary and authorized.
B. (1) The term of office for all officers and members elected at the County Convention or Election District Mass Meetings shall begin immediately following adjournment of respective County Conventions and Election District Mass Meetings.
(2) The term of office for all appointed members designated in 8A (3) above shall begin upon approval of their appointments by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 9: Powers and Duties of Officers of County Committee
A. Chairman: The Chairman shall be Chief Executive Officer of the Lamar County Republican Party, and shall have general direction of its affairs to the Convention or Executive Committee. He shall preside at all meetings and all Conventions. Chairman should consider appointing someone to oversee membership expansion and someone to be responsible for programs. These individuals could be the First Vice-Chairman and Second Vice-Chairman.
B. First Vice-Chairman: The First Vice-Chairman shall execute all powers and discharge all duties as the Chairman may direct. The First Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman's absence or disability, shall execute all powers and discharge all duties of the Chairman.
C. Second Vice-Chairman: The Second Vice-Chairman shall execute all powers and discharge all duties as the Chairman may direct. The Second Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman's and First Vice-chairman’s absence or disability, shall execute all powers and discharge all duties of the Chairman.
D. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, shall be the custodian of the records of the Lamar County Republican Party, shall prepare and sign all communications directed by the Executive Committee, shall issue notices of all meetings as required and perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee.
E. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have the custody and responsibility of the funds of the Lamar County Republican Party, shall deposit said funds in a bank to be selected by the Committee, and may draw against said funds with the joint signature of the Chairman. Committee expenditures of less than $100.00 will not require joint signatures. The Treasurer shall submit a proposed budget May 15th. Budget guidelines are spelled out in Appendix A of these Bylaws. The Treasurer shall keep and prepare accurate accounts and shall render statements and written reports to the Committee at each County Committee meeting or at least quarterly or as directed by said Committee. Said written reports shall include the current bank balance.
SECTION 10: Vacancy in the Office of Chairman
At its first meeting after the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the County Committee shall designate, by majority vote, the Vice-Chairman to fill the vacancy in the office of Chairman.
SECTION 11: Roberts Rules of Order
Except to the extent modified by the State Committee or by a majority vote of the Convention or the Committee in session, Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern.
SECTION 12: Membership
A. Dues:
(1) Fiscal year – Dues payments will cover the term of January 1 through December 31, and this will constitute the fiscal year of the Lamar County Republican Party.
(2) Lamar Republican Party Dues are due and payable on January 1 of each year.
(3) Amount of dues – The amount of dues for a member will be $16.00 per year for individuals and $28.00 per year for couples.
Individual Couple
January 1 $16.00 $28.00
Renewals are to be paid January 1 at the yearly rate.
B. Voting:
For purposes of voting for Officers, Convention Delegates and By-Law modifications, only established members shall have their votes counted. An established member is anyone who has paid his dues at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote for Officers, Convention Delegates or Bylaw modifications.
Votes for Officers and Convention Delegates shall be by a simple majority of established members. Votes for By-Law additions, deletions or modifications shall be by two-thirds (2/3) of established members.
SECTION 13:
The Executive Committee shall adopt a budget for the Lamar County Republican Party by June 30th.
ARTICLE III
Executive Committee
1. There shall be a Lamar County Republican Party Executive Committee, which shall function between meetings of the County Committee and shall be vested with all the duties, power and privileges possessed by the County Committee and shall act for the Republican Party in the county. The Executive Committee will be governed by all the rules of the County Committee, including, but not limited to, removal, attendance, notice, resignation, vacancies and terms of office.
2. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
3. The officers of the Executive Committee shall be the same as the officers of the County Committee; and the officers of the County Committee shall automatically be officers of the Executive Committee.
4. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the members of said Committee in attendance.
5. The Committee shall meet upon call of the Chairman or one-third (1/3) of its members.
ARTICLE IV:
County Conventions and Election (Precinct) Mass Meetings
All calls for County Conventions or Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings shall be published at least one week in advance thereof in a newspaper regularly circulated in said county and by such other as the County Committee shall deem appropriate; such call shall include the purposes of the Convention or Mass Meeting; the basis of representation of Delegates, if any. The said Meeting or Convention shall be held in a building appropriate for public use within the geographic limits of the unit involved. Participation in said Meeting or Convention shall be limited to qualifications for participation in the Republican Party as herein elsewhere defined and shall also be limited to qualified voters of the county and Election District (Precinct) involved. Prior to the CONVENING OF ANY County Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a nomination committee which shall meet no earlier than one week before the County Convention for the purpose of interviewing prospective candidates. Notification of this meeting shall be given to all delegates and alternate delegates selected at the Election District (Precinct) Mass Meeting. This Committee shall be temporary until a permanent Committee is appointed by the County Convention Chairman.
ARTICLE V:
Convention Business While Committees are in Session
No official business shall be transacted at any Convention while any of its Committees are in session.
ARTICLE VI:
Regular Meetings of the Lamar County Republican Party
The Lamar County Republican Party shall meet regularly on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Time and place for such meetings shall be published at least one week in advance thereof in a newspaper regularly circulated in said county and in the Lamar County Republican Party newsletter and/or by other such notice as the Chairman shall deem appropriate. The time and place of the monthly meeting may be changed temporarily by the same advance notice as noted above. Regular meetings of the Lamar County Republican Party shall be open to all individuals desiring to attend.
ARTICLE 7:
Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Lamar County Republican Party by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Party members in attendance at said regular meeting, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.
ARTICLE VIII:
Form of Proxy
SECTION 1: All Chairmen and members of Committees, delegates to Conventions, and voters in Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings provided for in these rules, shall be members of the Republican Party of the State of Georgia as defined in Article I of these Rules, and must be legally qualified voters in the respective district which they represent as Chairmen, members, Delegates or voters in Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings.
SECTION 2: All proxies shall be in writing and witnessed by a third party and shall be signed by the maker of the proxy. A proxy vote may be cast by any member of the Lamar County Republican Party. The Proxy shall be in the following form:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, _______________________________________________ do hereby, constitute and appoint ___________________________________________________________ my true and lawful attorney, to vote at a meeting of the Republican Party of Lamar County, or County Executive Committee, to be held on the _______ day of ________________, 20______, or at any adjourned meeting thereof, and for me and in my name, place and stead to vote upon any question that properly may come before such meeting, with all the power I should possess if personally present, hereby revoking all previous proxies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this _____ day of _________________, 20_____
SIGNATURE:
_____________________________________________________
WITNESS:
_____________________________________________________
Appendix A
Budget Preparation Guidance
These guidelines are meant to provide some consistency to the financial operations of the Lamar County GOP. They are not meant to be rigid rules that tie the hands of the Executive Committee. Budgets are living documents and the Executive Committee always has the right to shift funds around to cover expenses to:
The Treasurer should prepare a budget to present to the Executive Committee by June 30th of each year. The revenue sources anticipated and the annual amounts recommended for each line item are:
One-half of the Qualifying Fees collected by the County Registrar for Republican candidates in the Lamar County Primary will be given to the Lamar County Republican Party on the last day of Qualifying. These funds should be disbursed back to the Republican candidates within two weeks to facilitate their campaigns. For this reason whatever amount is collected is going to be returned directly to candidates so it does not have to be listed by amount on the budget.
Expenses are divided into two categories: Campaign Funds and Operating Expenses.
Campaign funds should be about 50% of total revenues (minus Qualifying Fees). These funds are meant to be donated to Republican candidates to help ensure their election. Since the Lamar County Republican Party does not take sides during a Primary they will be disbursed to the candidates that win the Republican Primary. They will only be disbursed in even numbered years unless there is a special election. When dividing the funds among the candidates priority should be given to county-wide races over single district races and contested races should be prioritized over uncontested races.
Operating Expenses are recommended to be allocated as follows:
Dinner for Speakers $110
Ads for Convention $110
Website Domain Registration $ 30
Publicity for the Party $ 100
Promotion of Specific Issues $ 100
Total $450
Article I
SECTION 1: Qualifications for Participation in Party Actions
All qualified voters under the laws of the State of Georgia, who are residents of Lamar County, Georgia, and who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, believe in its declaration of policy, and are in sympathy of its aims and purposes, may participate as members of the Republican Party in its Conventions or Mass Meetings in their respective jurisdictions. Requirements for voting and holding offices are specified in ARTICLE II, Section 3 and Section 13.
SECTION 2: Terms used for gender
At all times, the terms used in the masculine gender in these rules shall also constitute the feminine gender.
Article II
County Organization
SECTION 1: County Committee
There shall be a committee officially known as the Republican County Committee of Lamar County, Georgia, hereinafter designated as the "County Committee". Meetings shall be held upon written notice mailed at least seven (7) days in advance. Said Committee shall meet at such times as necessary on the call of the Chairman or one-third (1/3) of the members of said Committee; however, in no event shall such called meetings be conducted on a less than quarterly basis. A quorum of the County Committee shall be a majority of the members of said Committee.
SECTION 2: Membership of County Committee
The County Committee shall be composed of the Party Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected from the County at large by the County Convention duly assembled and one member from each of the four (4) County Voting Precincts (Election Districts), who shall be the duly elected Precinct Chairmen. In the event a precinct has more than one polling place or sub-precinct, each sub-precinct may have its own Chairman, but there shall only be one vote per precinct.
The following shall be non-voting ex-officio members of the County Committee: All Republican office holders who represent any political subdivision that is within the jurisdiction of the County Committee, and the President, or their representation, of any Republican organization within Lamar County whose rules and members have been certified and charted.
All members of the County Committee shall have voting rights except as specified in these bylaws.
SECTION 3: Eligibility to Hold an Office & Removal of County Committee Members
A. Eligibility to Hold an Office - Anyone who wishes to be considered for a Lamar County Republican Party Office or as a Convention Delegate must have paid his dues to the Lamar County Republican Party no later than thirty (30) days before the convention. Elected officials or candidates for elected office are not eligible to hold office in the Lamar County Republican Party.
B. Removal of County Committee Members - Any member may be removed from office for cause by a process that adheres to the State Republican Party rules, Paragraph 8.16, Removal from Office.
SECTION 4: Filling Vacancies
In the event of vacancies created by any cause in the Executive Committee or the County Committee, the County Committee shall promptly fill such vacancies by a majority vote.
SECTION 5: Duties of the County Committee
The County Committee shall be vested with all the duties, power and privileges possessed by the County Convention and shall act for the Republican Party in the County.
The County Committee shall call the County Convention and the Election District (Precincts) Mass Meetings or County Primary, make arrangements therefore, fix the basis of representation by delegates to the County Convention consistent with the State Rules and the time and place for the holding of the County Convention. It shall cooperate with all the State Committee and its District Committee in conducting all elections within its boundaries. It shall decide all controversies and contests arising within its jurisdiction, with the right to appeal to the District Committee. Appeals may be taken to the District Committee within thirty (30) days after the decision is appealed by petitions signed by at least five (5) qualified Republican voters of the political unit affected. The County Committee may provide in its rules for the County Executive Committee with such powers as may be provided in its rules.
Qualified Republican voters shall be defined as those who voted in the most recent Republican Primary Election.
SECTION 6: Precinct Chairmen
Unless Precinct Chairmen have been elected at Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings as hereinafter provided, the County Committee may elect such Precinct Chairmen as the business of the Party may require.
SECTION 7: Attendance required at County Committee and Executive Committee Meetings
Members of the County Committee and Executive Committee missing three (3) consecutive meetings will automatically lose their Committee post regardless of sending a proxy. The Chairman of the Lamar County Republican Party may waive this bylaw as circumstances may require. Ex-officio members are excluded from the above bylaw.
SECTION 8: Election/Appointment of Officers and Members of County Committee and Terms of Office for Same
A. (1) The Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected bi-annually, in odd numbered years, by the County Convention.
(2) The four (4) Election District (Precinct) Chairmen shall be elected at the Precinct Mass Meetings, in odd numbered years, and shall thereafter serve as members.
(3) The County Chairman, with approval of a majority of the County Executive Committee, may appoint a Parliamentarian, a Finance Chairman, a Membership Chairman and such other persons as he deems appropriate and necessary to serve as ex-officio members.
(4) Additional members shall be elected by the County Committee whenever same shall be necessary and authorized.
B. (1) The term of office for all officers and members elected at the County Convention or Election District Mass Meetings shall begin immediately following adjournment of respective County Conventions and Election District Mass Meetings.
(2) The term of office for all appointed members designated in 8A (3) above shall begin upon approval of their appointments by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 9: Powers and Duties of Officers of County Committee
A. Chairman: The Chairman shall be Chief Executive Officer of the Lamar County Republican Party, and shall have general direction of its affairs to the Convention or Executive Committee. He shall preside at all meetings and all Conventions. Chairman should consider appointing someone to oversee membership expansion and someone to be responsible for programs. These individuals could be the First Vice-Chairman and Second Vice-Chairman.
B. First Vice-Chairman: The First Vice-Chairman shall execute all powers and discharge all duties as the Chairman may direct. The First Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman's absence or disability, shall execute all powers and discharge all duties of the Chairman.
C. Second Vice-Chairman: The Second Vice-Chairman shall execute all powers and discharge all duties as the Chairman may direct. The Second Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman's and First Vice-chairman’s absence or disability, shall execute all powers and discharge all duties of the Chairman.
D. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, shall be the custodian of the records of the Lamar County Republican Party, shall prepare and sign all communications directed by the Executive Committee, shall issue notices of all meetings as required and perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee.
E. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have the custody and responsibility of the funds of the Lamar County Republican Party, shall deposit said funds in a bank to be selected by the Committee, and may draw against said funds with the joint signature of the Chairman. Committee expenditures of less than $100.00 will not require joint signatures. The Treasurer shall submit a proposed budget May 15th. Budget guidelines are spelled out in Appendix A of these Bylaws. The Treasurer shall keep and prepare accurate accounts and shall render statements and written reports to the Committee at each County Committee meeting or at least quarterly or as directed by said Committee. Said written reports shall include the current bank balance.
SECTION 10: Vacancy in the Office of Chairman
At its first meeting after the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the County Committee shall designate, by majority vote, the Vice-Chairman to fill the vacancy in the office of Chairman.
SECTION 11: Roberts Rules of Order
Except to the extent modified by the State Committee or by a majority vote of the Convention or the Committee in session, Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern.
SECTION 12: Membership
A. Dues:
(1) Fiscal year – Dues payments will cover the term of January 1 through December 31, and this will constitute the fiscal year of the Lamar County Republican Party.
(2) Lamar Republican Party Dues are due and payable on January 1 of each year.
(3) Amount of dues – The amount of dues for a member will be $16.00 per year for individuals and $28.00 per year for couples.
Individual Couple
January 1 $16.00 $28.00
Renewals are to be paid January 1 at the yearly rate.
B. Voting:
For purposes of voting for Officers, Convention Delegates and By-Law modifications, only established members shall have their votes counted. An established member is anyone who has paid his dues at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote for Officers, Convention Delegates or Bylaw modifications.
Votes for Officers and Convention Delegates shall be by a simple majority of established members. Votes for By-Law additions, deletions or modifications shall be by two-thirds (2/3) of established members.
SECTION 13:
The Executive Committee shall adopt a budget for the Lamar County Republican Party by June 30th.
ARTICLE III
Executive Committee
1. There shall be a Lamar County Republican Party Executive Committee, which shall function between meetings of the County Committee and shall be vested with all the duties, power and privileges possessed by the County Committee and shall act for the Republican Party in the county. The Executive Committee will be governed by all the rules of the County Committee, including, but not limited to, removal, attendance, notice, resignation, vacancies and terms of office.
2. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
3. The officers of the Executive Committee shall be the same as the officers of the County Committee; and the officers of the County Committee shall automatically be officers of the Executive Committee.
4. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the members of said Committee in attendance.
5. The Committee shall meet upon call of the Chairman or one-third (1/3) of its members.
ARTICLE IV:
County Conventions and Election (Precinct) Mass Meetings
All calls for County Conventions or Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings shall be published at least one week in advance thereof in a newspaper regularly circulated in said county and by such other as the County Committee shall deem appropriate; such call shall include the purposes of the Convention or Mass Meeting; the basis of representation of Delegates, if any. The said Meeting or Convention shall be held in a building appropriate for public use within the geographic limits of the unit involved. Participation in said Meeting or Convention shall be limited to qualifications for participation in the Republican Party as herein elsewhere defined and shall also be limited to qualified voters of the county and Election District (Precinct) involved. Prior to the CONVENING OF ANY County Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a nomination committee which shall meet no earlier than one week before the County Convention for the purpose of interviewing prospective candidates. Notification of this meeting shall be given to all delegates and alternate delegates selected at the Election District (Precinct) Mass Meeting. This Committee shall be temporary until a permanent Committee is appointed by the County Convention Chairman.
ARTICLE V:
Convention Business While Committees are in Session
No official business shall be transacted at any Convention while any of its Committees are in session.
ARTICLE VI:
Regular Meetings of the Lamar County Republican Party
The Lamar County Republican Party shall meet regularly on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Time and place for such meetings shall be published at least one week in advance thereof in a newspaper regularly circulated in said county and in the Lamar County Republican Party newsletter and/or by other such notice as the Chairman shall deem appropriate. The time and place of the monthly meeting may be changed temporarily by the same advance notice as noted above. Regular meetings of the Lamar County Republican Party shall be open to all individuals desiring to attend.
ARTICLE 7:
Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Lamar County Republican Party by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Party members in attendance at said regular meeting, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.
ARTICLE VIII:
Form of Proxy
SECTION 1: All Chairmen and members of Committees, delegates to Conventions, and voters in Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings provided for in these rules, shall be members of the Republican Party of the State of Georgia as defined in Article I of these Rules, and must be legally qualified voters in the respective district which they represent as Chairmen, members, Delegates or voters in Election District (Precinct) Mass Meetings.
SECTION 2: All proxies shall be in writing and witnessed by a third party and shall be signed by the maker of the proxy. A proxy vote may be cast by any member of the Lamar County Republican Party. The Proxy shall be in the following form:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, _______________________________________________ do hereby, constitute and appoint ___________________________________________________________ my true and lawful attorney, to vote at a meeting of the Republican Party of Lamar County, or County Executive Committee, to be held on the _______ day of ________________, 20______, or at any adjourned meeting thereof, and for me and in my name, place and stead to vote upon any question that properly may come before such meeting, with all the power I should possess if personally present, hereby revoking all previous proxies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this _____ day of _________________, 20_____
SIGNATURE:
_____________________________________________________
WITNESS:
_____________________________________________________
Appendix A
Budget Preparation Guidance
These guidelines are meant to provide some consistency to the financial operations of the Lamar County GOP. They are not meant to be rigid rules that tie the hands of the Executive Committee. Budgets are living documents and the Executive Committee always has the right to shift funds around to cover expenses to:
The Treasurer should prepare a budget to present to the Executive Committee by June 30th of each year. The revenue sources anticipated and the annual amounts recommended for each line item are:
One-half of the Qualifying Fees collected by the County Registrar for Republican candidates in the Lamar County Primary will be given to the Lamar County Republican Party on the last day of Qualifying. These funds should be disbursed back to the Republican candidates within two weeks to facilitate their campaigns. For this reason whatever amount is collected is going to be returned directly to candidates so it does not have to be listed by amount on the budget.
Expenses are divided into two categories: Campaign Funds and Operating Expenses.
Campaign funds should be about 50% of total revenues (minus Qualifying Fees). These funds are meant to be donated to Republican candidates to help ensure their election. Since the Lamar County Republican Party does not take sides during a Primary they will be disbursed to the candidates that win the Republican Primary. They will only be disbursed in even numbered years unless there is a special election. When dividing the funds among the candidates priority should be given to county-wide races over single district races and contested races should be prioritized over uncontested races.
Operating Expenses are recommended to be allocated as follows:
Dinner for Speakers $110
Ads for Convention $110
Website Domain Registration $ 30
Publicity for the Party $ 100
Promotion of Specific Issues $ 100
Total $450
