Rob Ford could be back in legal hot water on Monday, this time for spending on his 2010 mayoral campaign.

Toronto's 3-person Compliance Audit Committee will decide whether to drop the matter or to pursue legal action against the mayor.

The panel is made up of a former elections officer for Ontario, former chair of the Ontario Municipal Board & an ex-President of the Ontario Bar Association.

If they opt to push the issue forward, they'll call in a special prosecutor who will determine what quasi-criminal charges Rob Ford should face. That process could take as long as a year.

A forensic audit of Ford's expenses released February 1st, lists dozens of "apparent contraventions" of the Municipal Elections Act.  Among them, overspending by more than $40, 000, accepting corporate donations & taking a loan from brother Doug Ford's company.

Municipal law expert John Mascarin says apparent contraventions are rampant in municipal politics.  And a candidate having a multiplicity of them, doesn't necessarily mean they'll be found guilty or face any of the maximum penalties.

Punishments include removal from office or jail time. Neither of those have ever played out in the history of Ontario, &  Mascarin doesn't think they'll be on the table in Ford's case either.

Politicians found to have overspent on their campaigns can be forced to pay the overage back to the city.