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Elections staff warn poll-worker budget could strain if a primary is held
Summary
City elections staff told the Finance Committee that poll-worker staffing needs vary by election type and that the election salaries line has been overspent in prior years when there were additional state or municipal elections; the clerk said she expects to hire fewer poll workers if there is no primary.
Elections and registration staff told the Finance Committee on May 29 that the number of poll workers and the related salaries line item vary substantially by election type and that municipal staffing plans depend on whether a primary will be required.
City Clerk (role: City Clerk) and elections staff said presidential elections require the most poll workers; primaries are less busy but still require staffing. The clerk said, "If I can get the poll pads working, I won't need as many poll workers," noting that reliable electronic poll pads reduce paperwork and errors.
Key details - Staffing assumptions: Clerk said the office plans for a minimum of six poll workers per site but typically aims for seven to nine where workload requires it; turnover among long-time workers is increasing and the clerk is recruiting to build a training pipeline. - Budget exposure: Committee members observed that the elections salary line (account 51013) was significantly overspent in prior years when there were extra elections; clerk said state elections reimburse a portion of state election costs and that the general fund temporarily covers expenses until reimbursements come in. - Contingency and process: Clerk said the city maintains a cash buffer and that any shortfalls are typically paid from the general fund and later backfilled through supplemental appropriation or free-cash transfers.
Discussion and follow-up - Committee members asked whether the $40,000 election salary proposal is adequate; clerk said it may be sufficient if no primary occurs but she cannot know until July whether a primary will be necessary. - Staff described procedures for transferring funds between expense lines with a council vote and explained that general fund balances are used to cover immediate payroll obligations pending reimbursements.
Ending - The committee asked staff to plan for a full scenario that assumes a primary to avoid shortfalls; staff reported about $16,000 currently available to cover reimbursable election expenses and said reimbursements are used to replenish the account.
