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County elections office warns of higher 2026 costs as postage, printing and extra help rise
Summary
Elections officials told the Board of County Commissioners that the county's 2026 elections budget faces increases from postage, printing and extra-help costs and that the county will shoulder a larger share of expenses in the midterm cycle.
The county elections office told commissioners on Sept. 15 that its 2026 budget will be higher than recent nonpresidential years because postage, printing and extra-help costs are rising and because the county will carry a larger share of expenses in the upcoming election cycle. The office projects 2026 operating costs around $3.3 million, above the adopted 2025 budget figure for elections.
Elections officials said postage costs have increased about $38,000 in the current year and asked to move the per-ballot postage estimate from $8.50 to $9.50 if rates continue to rise. Printing costs and the requirement to print and distribute the voter pamphlet were also cited as drivers of higher expenses. The office described extra help — temporary staff used during major elections — as the largest fluctuating expense, with extra-help spending varying by election cycle and reaching higher levels in midterm years when countywide candidates are on the ballot.
The office said equipment purchases are financed by a statutory surcharge charged to jurisdictions that use county election services, and that new ballot-sorting machines purchased last year and this year provide redundancy. Officials reported a $320,000 capital request for additional sorters and that a delivery had occurred the morning of the meeting. They also noted that whenever jurisdictions place items on the ballot, revenue recognized for elections can decrease because the county absorbs costs that might otherwise be billed to those jurisdictions.
Commissioners asked about the mailing program and whether the Department of Licensing's move to email/postcard reminders could reduce vehicle-licensing revenue, which in turn affects related recording and licensing funds. Elections staff said statewide and local trends in renewals could influence future revenue but that the primary budget pressure for elections in 2026 is postage, printing and the number of ballots processed.
No formal action or vote was taken during the presentation. Officials said they will continue to monitor postage and printing costs, finalize capital requests, and return with any follow-up information requested by the commissioners.
