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Cobb County elections board asks commissioners to raise monthly stipends to $600 for chair, $500 for members; requests effective Aug. 1
Summary
The board voted to ask the Board of Commissioners to raise monthly stipends for election board members, citing decades without adjustment and increased workload; the motion passed with three votes in favor and one abstention.
The Cobb County Board of Elections moved to request that the Cobb County Board of Commissioners increase payments to members of the elections board to $500 per month and the chair to $600 per month, with the board asking that the change take effect Aug. 1. The motion passed with three votes in favor, one abstention and one member absent.
Board member Jennifer Mosbacher introduced the topic and circulated comparative figures for neighboring counties. Mosbacher said she reviewed stipends in the metro area and suggested possible increases; she told colleagues she had prepared spreadsheet comparisons and a draft memo for the Board of Commissioners.
Board members noted the current stipends: the chair receives $200 per month and other members receive $150 per month. "The stipend is exactly the same today as it was in 1991," Mr. Bruning said, urging an adjustment. Director Fall and other board members described a heavier workload in recent years — more meetings, frequent special elections and extended election-night hours — and argued the county’s compensation should reflect current demands.
Some members discussed alternatives and differentials for the chair. Member Mosbacher had earlier suggested $350 for members and $400 for the chair based on comparative ratios; other members backed a higher figure to align more closely with Fulton County, which approved a larger stipend in 2023. After discussion, Mr. Bruning moved to request $600 for the chair and $500 for other members, with the request to the Board of Commissioners to be presented outside the regular budget cycle. The motion proposed an Aug. 1 effective date; the board debated whether an Oct. 1 start tied to the fiscal year would be more practical, but the motion as moved and seconded specified Aug. 1 and the board approved it by voice (3 in favor, 1 abstention).
The board asked staff and counsel to prepare a memo for the Board of Commissioners; Director Fall gave deadlines for agenda submission and noted the cutoff for the July 8 BOC meeting was coming in four days. Board members said they plan to follow up in person when the item is scheduled on the commissioners’ agenda.
The motion authorizes staff to present an item requesting an increase to the commissioners; final approval and appropriation of funds rests with the Board of Commissioners and will determine the effective date for payment.
