Arlene Buetow has just stepped up her campaign for the Bainbridge Island City Council.

Buetow, who is facing fellow islander Wayne Roth for the Central Ward, Position 5 seat on the council, has notified the state’s Public Disclosure Commission that she will raise more money for her campaign than previously expected. The Public Disclosure Commission is the state agency that serves as a watchdog on campaign financing.

Buetow originally told the commission that she expected to raise no more than $5,000 in her campaign for a council seat.

As such, she qualified for “mini reporting” of her campaign financing, which means she would not be required to file regular reports of donations and expenditures made to her campaign.

The deadline for changing to full reporting, which allows a candidate to raise more than $5,000, was Monday, Sept. 23.

Buetow’s campaign made the switch late last week.

Roth, her opponent in the race, was notified of the change by certified mail.

“I raised more money than I was expecting,” Buetow said Tuesday.

“I really didn’t know what I would be raising; it’s a small campaign,” she added. “I picked the reporting I thought was appropriate for the campaign at the time I started.”

According to a summary of donations and expenditures submitted to the Public Disclosure Commission on Sept. 23, Buetow was nearing the $5,000 mark on cash and in-kind donations to her campaign.

According to the report, Buetow raised $4,493. She’s since raised more.

A recent donation pushed her campaign coffers over the $5,000 mark. It now stands at $5,085, she said.

“The minute I got that check that pushed me over the top I knew I need to take some action,” Buetow said.

Her campaign has reported nine donations ranging between $100 and $450 since Aug. 22. She currently has a cash-on-hand amount of $3,194, according to the report.

Roth, her opponent, has a slight edge in overall fundraising. He has raised $5,664 for his campaign so far, according to reports on file with the Public Disclosure Commission.

Buetow’s campaign will get an outside assist as the election nears.

Email activist Gary Tripp has set up a political action committee called Common Sense Bainbridge to promote a slate of three council candidates in the November election.

Along with Buetow, Tripp’s group is supporting council candidates Dee McComb and Richard “Dick” Haugan.

McComb is running for the South Ward, Position 3 seat against Roger Townsend.

Haugan is squaring off against Val Tollefson for the North Ward, Position 7 seat on the council.