The Tompkins County Board of Elections presented a maintenance‑of‑effort budget for 2026 and answered detailed questions from legislators about a large consolidated "other" expense category, postage increases and service contract variances.

Presenters identified themselves as Steve DeWitt and Alana Conkin and described staffing and poll worker cost assumptions in the budget. "This is strictly a maintenance of, effort, budget. We're not asking for any enhancements or any, you know, over target requests. That's essentially our presentation," the commissioners said. (Steve DeWitt / Alana Conkin, Board of Elections)

Legislators asked why a consolidated "other" line rose from roughly $43,830 in 2025 to $66,750 in 2026 in the consolidated budget. County budget staff explained that the consolidated line aggregates several functional units (14‑50, 14‑51, 14‑52) and that the committee would receive a breakdown after the meeting. Budget staff said they would provide a line‑by‑line breakdown of items making up the $66,750 figure.

Postage and voter mail costs also drove questions: board staff said even‑numbered years entail greater postage for ballots and that a law change in 2020 requires the county to provide postage‑paid return envelopes for absentee ballots, increasing costs in heavy election years.

On contracts, commissioners said some service contract bills would increase 2025 expenditures and explained that municipal chargebacks and village and school revenue flows are estimated based on past cycles; revenue assumptions reflect billing back municipalities for election costs.

Next steps: Board staff agreed to deliver a written breakdown of the consolidated "other" line and supporting documentation on postage and service contract changes to the committee after the EBC session. Several legislators requested that the online budget system allow drill‑down functionality so members can view the roll‑ups in real time.

Ending: The board closed the presentation, and legislators thanked them for the detail; staff will follow up with the requested spreadsheets and clarifications.