Board of Education authorizes IGA for Nov. 4 coordinated election, approves 50% deposit

The Board of Education on Aug. 20 unanimously authorized the district to execute an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to participate in the Nov. 4, 2025 coordinated election and to place three vacant board seats on the ballot. The board approved an estimated total cost of $279,826 and agreed to the IGA’s requirement that the district pay a 50% deposit by Aug. 26.

Board members said the IGA is required for the district’s participation. “I move that the Board of Education authorizes the Executive Director of Enterprise Operations to execute the intergovernmental agreement, an IGA, for the 2025 coordinated election to be held on 11/04/2025 at a total estimated cost of $279,826 to allow for the district's board election,” Director Jorgensen said when making the motion.

The IGA matters because it obligates the district to an upfront payment to secure election services shared among multiple jurisdictions and sets deadlines tied to the certified count and swearing-in of new directors. A district staff member summarized the timeline: the last day for the designated election official to certify ballot content is Sept. 5; election day is Nov. 4; the certified count will be finalized no later than Nov. 26; and newly elected directors must be sworn in by Dec. 5.

District staff told the board the IGA’s estimated cost is proportioned among all election participants based on the number of registered voters in each jurisdiction. Staff also warned that the district’s share could rise if other jurisdictions drop out of the coordinated election (for example, because a jurisdiction has uncontested seats and therefore cancels its race). The staff member said, “Our participation costs are shared amongst all participants of the election, such as school districts, counties, city, and is proportioned to the number of registered voters within each corresponding jurisdiction.”

The staff member identified the district’s designated election official as Melissa Olsen and said Olsen will carry the signed IGA and deposit to the El Paso County election office once the board approves it. The IGA requires a 50% deposit up front and the balance after the certified count is finalized; staff told the board the deposit amount was approximately $139,000 and that the district has a budget line item of $204,000 to cover elections but would need a budget transfer to cover the full cost.

The district’s contract attorney reviewed and signed the IGA for legal sufficiency, staff said. Director Jorgensen moved the action; the motion was recorded as moved and seconded, and the board approved it on a roll-call vote with all voting members recorded as aye: Director Mancas; Director Carey; Director Higley; Director Jorgensen; Director Malpachkin; and Director Ott.

Board members asked one substantive budget question during the discussion; staff responded that the approved budget line item was not sufficient to cover the full estimated cost and that a transfer would be forthcoming. Staff also noted the deadline to return the executed IGA and the 50% deposit is Aug. 26.

With the IGA approved, staff will execute the agreement, deliver the deposit to the county elections office, and proceed with coordinated-election procedures for placing the district’s three open seats on the Nov. 4 ballot.