Controller William Thompson is expected to fall short of a key fund-raising goal Thursday, costing him $1.5 million in public matching funds in his race for City Hall.

His campaign told election officials he had raised $251,836 in small donations from New Yorkers – just over the $250,000 minimum to qualify for six-to-one matching funds.

But the Campaign Finance Board is expected to disqualify some of those donations when it double-checks his forms, putting Thompson below the threshold.

“If he doesn’t qualify for public matching funds, his campaign is in trouble,” said Dick Dadey, head of the Citizens Union.

“For a major candidate to not qualify one month out from the primary sends a disturbing signal about the strength of his candidacy.”

Candidates can accept up to $4,950 from most donors, but only the first $175 counts toward matching funds, and must come from New Yorkers.

Thompson was shy of the $250,000 minimum until July 11, the last day of the filing period, when a surge of donations included $4,989 that qualified for matching funds. Among the last-day donors was Thompson himself, who wrote his campaign a $175 check – the only contribution he has given to any candidate in this cycle.

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