Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Registrar Of Voters Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board creates standalone Registrar of Voters post, approves salary range and temporary staffing allocation
Summary
The board voted unanimously to establish a new Registrar of Voters job classification in the unclassified service, approve a salary range and temporarily allocate one FTE to the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor office while the new department is formed. The classification will be placed in the unclassified service and recruitment may begin before the new
Action taken: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 adopted a set of measures to create a stand-alone Registrar of Voters department and establish a new job classification for the department head.
What the board approved:
- A resolution amending the county salary schedule to create a "Registrar of Voters" classification and set a recommended annual salary range of $187,548 to $227,952.
- A resolution to introduce and waive full reading of an ordinance that will place the Registrar of Voters in the unclassified service (making the position at-will); the ordinance item was to be returned for final adoption on Feb. 25 and will take effect 30 days after final approval.
- A resolution temporarily placing one full-time equivalent (FTE) Registrar of Voters allocation in the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Department until the new department is established through the fiscal-year budget process.
Why the change: County staff said the separation aims to increase capacity to administer elections, expand voter outreach and engagement, ensure compliance with changing election-related laws and policies and separate election administration from an elected official's office.
Budget implications: Human Resources and the county executive estimated a fully loaded cost for the position of up to $350,000. Staff said most ongoing overhead will be reallocated rather than creating an entirely new cost base; the ordinance change and new allocation were brought forward to permit immediate recruitment so an appointment can be made promptly.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the package unanimously. If the ordinance is adopted on Feb. 25 as scheduled, the change to unclassified status will become effective 30 days after final approval; Human Resources indicated a recruitment for the position could begin within weeks.
Quote from staff: "Under general policy direction of the Board of Supervisors and the County Executive, the Registrar of Voters will provide leadership, administrative policy, and operational direction for the Registrar of Voters Department," Deputy Human Resources Director Spencer Keywood told the board.
Ending: The board authorized a new department head classification to stand up a dedicated elections office; staff will return with the formal ordinance and proceed with recruitment steps.
