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Jackson City Council adopts ordinance to pay election workers, compensate off-duty deputies for poll security
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance expanding compensation for municipal election commissioners, poll managers, resolution board workers and to cover facility usage fees and pay off-duty law-enforcement personnel who staff polling locations ahead of the general election.
The Jackson City Council on May 6 adopted an ordinance amending compensation for municipal election commissioners, poll managers, resolution board workers and box helpers and adding facility usage fees and pay for off-duty law-enforcement officers assigned to polling locations.
The vote to adopt the ordinance was 7-0. Municipal Clerk Angela Harris asked the council to consider adoption so it could take effect before the upcoming general election.
The measure adds payment for Hinds County deputy sheriffs who staff polling places when the county cannot provide on-duty officers, Harris said. "They charge $40 an hour," Harris said when asked about the rate for deputies. Council members clarified that the deputies hired under the ordinance are off-duty county personnel; the city will pay for their services when county staffing is not available.
Council members discussed budget implications. Harris said the city currently has funds to cover the payments but that officials expect to need a budget amendment later: "Currently, yes. But, you know, when I mentioned we are gonna have to, make a budget amendment to pull some more funds in to be able to cover the general. We just don't have it." Council staff said Finance Director Muellenbeger is reviewing budget sources for the additional amounts.
Council members also reviewed why the city hires off-duty county deputies rather than Jackson Police Department officers. Council members noted a historical concern that JPD presence at polling places could be perceived as intimidating because the chief reports to the mayor; the city has historically used non-municipal officers for election security. The council agreed to continue that practice for the upcoming election and to discuss details offline.
The council first moved to advance the item from introduction and then voted to adopt the ordinance on the floor. The clerk recorded the motion, second, and the unanimous 7-0 adoption vote.
Council members and staff said matching county compensation levels for poll managers helped the city attract qualified poll workers; the ordinance aligns with prior amendments to match county rates for certain election positions.
The ordinance is intended to be effective for the May/June election period and to ensure personnel and facility costs are covered in time for election day operations.
The clerk will publish the adopted ordinance and work with municipal and county election officials to finalize staffing and facility usage before the general election.
