Suamico backs Brown County purchase of new DS300 tabulators; municipality to cover maintenance

The Suamico Village Board on Monday unanimously approved Resolution 25011 to support Brown County's planned purchase and countywide distribution of new DS300 tabulators.

Clerk Bartoletti told the board the county contacted municipal clerks about replacing aging DS200 tabulators purchased in 2011; the DS200 units have exceeded their predicted 10-year lifespan and many municipalities now need replacements. The county's plan is to purchase the newer DS300 machines and distribute them to municipal clerks.

If Brown County pays for the machines, Suamico would continue to budget for annual maintenance costs, Clerk Bartoletti said. The DS300 units were priced at approximately $10,000 per unit in materials presented; no maintenance contract costs were disclosed at the meeting. The village currently budgets about $10,000 in an equipment reserve fund (about $5,000 per year) and has budgeted $2,500 in 2026 for maintenance and repair of election equipment.

Trustees asked whether the county board or county executive could later decide to require municipalities to share purchase costs; Clerk Bartoletti said that is possible, and that the resolution is intended to show municipal support so the county board understands local preference for a county-funded purchase. Trustee McKeefrey said he supported the resolution "cautiously," and the board discussed raising the matter at a municipal association meeting if needed to ensure county-level decisions did not shift cost burdens to municipalities.

Trustee McKeefrey moved the resolution; Trustee Romas seconded. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Trustees Eckert, McKeefrey, Romas, Stevens, Andrews and President Van Razon. The motion carried 6-0.