Northampton County elections staff expect EIGP grant, plan equipment and training purchases

During a Northampton County meeting, elections staff said they expect the EIGP grant to continue and indicated they intend to use the funds for equipment and training rather than leaving them unspent.

The discussion mattered because staff said the county has not made major equipment purchases since 2023 and wants departments to submit requests now so available grant money is used.

“We haven't seen the paperwork for that yet, but we're expecting, that to continue, that EIGP grant,” Staff member said in response to a question about the program's status. A county official asked, “Do you have any needs from either of those programs that you're looking to fill in terms of equipment or training money?”

Staff responded that the county has been using the funds for recurring items and that there have been no large machine purchases since 2023, when the county received a “balance order.” “So we haven't made any large, machine purchases since, '23 when we got our balance order,” Staff member said. A county representative asked departments to bring forward needs if funds are available: “And if there's stuff that you need to put it in front of us, especially if we have this money. I would not wanna send it back or leave it on the table,” Board member said.

The meeting included a brief check on whether the county's Election Commission had outstanding location concerns. Staff said there were none. “Nope. I think we're good. Yeah. That we're okay,” Staff member said when asked to report any issues raised by the commission.

No formal motion or vote was taken during this exchange; the remarks were recorded as discussion and planning. Staff said they will try to spend the funds once paperwork and allocations are confirmed.