[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299799,"mediaKeyId","2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76","parentId",2495329,"title","Board approves election budget; staff seeks poll-worker pay bump, outreach specialist and legal retainer","audioSeconds",700,"startMs",2800000,"endMs",3500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76&start=2800&end=3500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76/thumbnail_2800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299799/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Board-approves-election-budget-staff-seeks-poll-worker-pay-bump-outreach-specialist-and-legal-retainer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299799-d755e952967c741c33f42bcf3704877d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318499&Signature=aimSiKdXgReA6Q4UOl0YlWmhIf19eHORU6zh8QZrPX7mfY6gVhMbU0wPb-QphBxCREOmYgW8RDEzW0DPraYjDsSORzsPMoEV0trxPGYBIT30BuglYNG3Y78TE3ZXauw89PdYgzvfOPbmxaOk4OlOA8wtavd4m67XeCY1TN2e-XvdQdLdP5Cv2sO15DP-QpKfl6nRGQsWuRx6Jutmvh-dHDQmCna4AAyx9WZNKVsJrklmvKTbuc7rgA-0B8ib8VEu5FjElekdCL0iLGPr8duy~G~p45EOFu4gvdJtWq4jU25kf00mv3pzgO9jp2xFxrIQOyl62ZgdiukJa37subXTog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harnett County, NC","date","2025-03-04T21:42:28Z","article","The Harnett County Board of Elections approved its budget request for the coming fiscal cycle and discussed several staffing and operational proposals intended to address recent staffing shortfalls and anticipated election workloads.

Elections staff reviewed anticipated election events for the year — including municipal and county elections and potential runoffs — and described two budget categories: contingency funds (held by the county for unplanned expenditures such as recounts or second primaries) and continuation funds. Staff said they had increased postage and advertising lines to cover precinct changes, and flagged the substantial cost of early‑voting sites (about $40,000 per site for the full early‑voting period) versus a typical election‑day polling site (roughly $3,500–$4,000).

To address poll‑worker recruitment and retention, staff proposed a $15 increase in per‑worker pay over current rates and suggested a one‑time $50 bonus for staff who work the full election day. Board members discussed allowing part‑time (half‑shift) workers for some positions to ease long‑day staffing burdens, noting that judges must serve full days for accountability reasons. The board discussed practical limits: half shifts would require more recruits and more administrative coordination; staff said they could allow part‑time assistants if recruitment sufficed.

Board members also discussed adding an election outreach specialist position to support expanded weekday, evening and weekend outreach tied to the precinct changes and outreach events. Staff asked for board approval to request the position from county administration and commissioners.

Separately, staff recommended budgeting for outside legal counsel on a retainer or as‑needed basis following a recent conflict of interest that limited use of the county attorney on an issue. Staff noted one county’s experience using a retainer and cited a prior legal engagement of about $5,000 as a budgeting example.

After discussion, the board voted to approve the budget request pending any minor edits; members recorded affirmative votes. Board members directed staff to proceed with outreach planning, to include small appreciation tokens for poll workers (staff said the office will continue distributing pins to workers), and to pursue the personnel and legal funding requests with the county administration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Elections Board Meeting 03/04/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Harnett County Board of Elections approved its fiscal request and discussed personnel and operational changes, including a proposed $15 increase to poll‑worker pay, a possible $50 election‑day bonus, an outreach specialist position, and funds for outside legal counsel.","taxTitle","Harnett County, North Carolina","taxId",13715,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299804,"Board votes to propose precinct map changes, schedules March 18 public hearing at Anderson Creek EMS",2643,2463000,5106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76&start=2463&end=5106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76/thumbnail_2463000.jpg","/articles/6299804/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Board-votes-to-propose-precinct-map-changes-schedules-March-18-public-hearing-at-Anderson-Creek-EMS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299804-322eb528dbd54d92ed035e04a20e3ed4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318499&Signature=j6Ie4RLnrVxLniiznI1GzVvVsNCYY3sa5NwQFnf-SyU1h0bh4ft~VTGG6W8i-ELZdXpe1krj2p77pEzCox5d457CYWax7hrgsg-NXjdCkOZ7o9tn5gIq-UfPfOPfGXCEnM0IAhcVF94~GNM1QwYyvmMLV4IBZ61OeRdhVrnPrzOHkaXky2YqizFubtC-2pHo10dgqLyY3ZQ9SLBZ-m4O0J80FaTp1IDK2Z5Gv4q84h05mjzwep~stEQoYbjiIyQPP1cwtLxJ~4NHnbPoPgHtk-QkHnLlcjvfQ9jrj8D0nCUiBq0beCa85gj~zqFzOBl~52OkCY7IIJ4Z20hIT3XM~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harnett County Board of Elections voted on March 4 to advance a proposed precinct map designed to reduce population imbalances in the western portion of Harnett County and to schedule a public input session followed by a special board meeting on March 18 at Anderson Creek Emergency Services.

Elections staff presented revised map options after a series of public input sessions and an online survey. Staff said much of the public comment opposed countywide consolidation but supported targeted changes in the western area to address precinct size and travel distance concerns. The board discussed several alternatives and directed staff to preserve most current precinct lines while making these targeted changes: pull the incorporated Vandercroft area into the central Lillington (Central Harnett/Lillington) precinct, extend a portion of Anderson Creek precinct southward along NC‑210 to reduce an overlarge Anderson Creek precinct, split the Barbecue precinct as presented, and correct a small triangular boundary in Johnsonville to keep neighborhoods intact.

During discussion, staff noted that the changes would not create large population shifts for most precincts; one area the board discussed would add roughly 1,500–2,000 voters where the proposed purple boundary is pulled to the southern border. Staff also described cost implications: an election‑day polling location typically costs about $3,500–$4,000 per site, while an early‑voting site can cost on the order of $40,000 for the full early‑voting period. Board members and party chairs raised staffing and equipment concerns and urged planning for staffing levels if precincts are consolidated.

Board member Claire (name as recorded in transcript) moved to adopt the proposed map as the board’s formal proposal and to schedule a public input meeting and special meeting at Anderson Creek Emergency Services on March 18; the motion was seconded by Mr. Kearns and passed with the board’s affirmative votes. The board instructed staff to post the proposed map and supporting materials on the elections website and to accept public comment through the scheduling period. Staff said they would walk through the Anderson Creek Emergency Services site with IT to confirm accessibility, parking, and security; the site was described as a new fire/EMS facility with adequate parking.

Members agreed to leave other proposed consolidations — specifically, combining East and West Abersboro/Aveburyboro precincts — off this first package because of local opposition and potential downstream effects on other precincts. The board directed staff to finalize the map presentation, post it online, and hold the March 18 public input session at Anderson Creek Emergency Services before making a final decision at the special meeting.

The motion to adopt the proposal, as amended, passed in the meeting; board members also voted to keep the public comment period open while staff posts the final materials online.","After public input and staff modeling, the Harnett County Board of Elections approved a proposed precinct map to address western‑county imbalances, directed staff to post the maps online and scheduled a public input session and special meeting for March 18 at Anderson Creek Emergency Services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299808,"Board of Elections approves cover letter and response to joint resolution; adds note on polling-place moves",467,1568000,2035000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76&start=1568&end=2035","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495329-5d961de32ef833ca3e9db74834079a76/thumbnail_1568000.jpg","/articles/6299808/Harnett-County/North-Carolina/Board-of-Elections-approves-cover-letter-and-response-to-joint-resolution-adds-note-on-polling-place-moves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299808-8fcdcdde0a6a917dc0e57fabd214989b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318499&Signature=lmiJWaJfE32geKZTx72RUiCqdZ90r5B5DmElrJ1PMgdEK8DjbK~AGZM1stDoBKDUgIikDwQF8KMwFVkgMvaIenFgsvHU6mw1d5FEanmYIW4zSqH2Id8fHcxS6Zv1K76MAXGuWEZJFS78jYXCIoWear~B8I6hWAup5UhHZdS6UCdorJ1P0J8CSkRowRV55q3r4-SRX8dFesZdOXhR~pLDThwG6Nh59-8FEEIrW4asf8XpslVQIGTXXc1MiXc-oRltj6bkbuJKOOp~DpmOa09pNtmOhurWjVFjVIAPFf8Zv-VlL4R~IG5~dsEdtcwJ76kknHmXLZqESTHxVet5TPQi3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harnett County Board of Elections on March 4 approved a two-part response — a cover letter and an accompanying resolution — to a joint resolution previously passed by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and the Harnett County Board of Education.

The board voted to send the cover letter followed by the resolution as a single four‑page packet to county leaders and legislators, and directed staff to include an additional bullet in the cover letter noting that “anytime a polling place is moved you lose 7% of the votes,” language added to the draft at staff request.

The board’s elections staff member said they reviewed two draft formats and that version 2 — the version presented at the meeting with the cover letter — was more applicable to the situation. Allison, an elections staff member, asked that after the third paragraph a typographical correction be made and that the bullet about lost votes be added. Board members discussed formatting and the risk that the cover letter and resolution might separate if not submitted together, and directed staff to number the pages so the packet would be received as a single document.

Board members confirmed the package will be sent to the county commissioners, the state superintendent’s office, and the county’s legislative delegation; staff named recipients including the commissioner of supportive education, Senator Burvey, and Representative Pike and Penny during the meeting. The board approved the draft with the requested edits and asked staff to ensure all four pages are transmitted together.

The vote to approve the cover letter and resolution, as amended, was recorded as in favor; the board did not record any “no” votes in the meeting transcript.

The board also asked staff to correct a minor typographical error on the first page before transmission. Staff said they would make the edits and that the final packet would be distributed to the named recipients.","The Harnett County Board of Elections approved a two-part response — a cover letter and a resolution — to a joint resolution passed by county commissioners and the Board of Education, and added a bullet calling attention to a claimed 7% voter loss when polling places move.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves election budget; staff seeks poll-worker pay bump, outreach specialist and legal retainer

Board votes to propose precinct map changes, schedules March 18 public hearing at Anderson Creek EMS

Board of Elections approves cover letter and response to joint resolution; adds note on polling-place moves