Cook County commissioners spent substantial time during the FY26 budget discussion debating whether to form a standalone Election Administrator (EA) office, but they agreed there is no consensus yet on funding, interlocal agreements or an implementation plan.

Why it matters: an EA would centralize election administration functions now shared between the county clerk and the tax/collector or other offices. Commissioners said proponents see potential administrative efficiencies and clearer accountability, while opponents warned of high recurring costs and the risk of creating a permanent expense the county cannot sustain from general fund savings.

Discussion highlights: supporters said an EA could reduce election-day workload pressure on two offices that currently provide bulk staffing during elections. One commissioner said counties with around 40,000 registered voters had recently established EAs and suggested Cook County could follow suit, but added the county must engage taxing entities to share costs. Several commissioners urged getting all stakeholders in one roomschool districts, cities and hospitalsto discuss what each would pay for a permanent EA.

Cost and process concerns dominated. Commissioners and staff discussed several cost estimates circulated in committee materials: annual salary scenarios of $50,000$73,073; $60,000$85,002.75; and $70,000$96,820 for a single EA position depending on salary band and benefits. Larger staffing scenarios presented in the packet showed a full EA office could cost roughly $242,000 a year in total, a figure commissioners said would either need dedicated contributions from taxing entities or would reduce county fund balance if paid solely from the general fund.

Staff and elected clerks warned about operational risk during election periods: the current arrangement allows the clerk and collector offices to call on their full staffs and temporary workers to cover high-volume work; a small EA staff could be overwhelmed on busy election nights without contingency plans for supplemental staffing. Commissioners noted that some counties hire temporary workers or pay overtime, and that an EA would still rely on temporary judges and seasonal staff during peak operations.

No action was taken. Commissioners said they will not remove the EA conversation from the budget entirely but will not budget a permanent standalone EA for FY26 without a concrete plan for shared funding, staffing, and operational contingencies. Several commissioners urged the county judge to lead stakeholder outreach and work toward a detailed proposal including cost-sharing commitments.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to continue compiling comparative cost data from other counties, to clarify legal and contract requirements for a joint election administrator under state code, and to convene taxing entities for discussions before any FY27 proposal.