Rockingham elections office gets EAC honorable mention for contingency planning; budget packet shows one staffing change

The Rockingham County Board of Elections reviewed the manager’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and learned the office received an honorable mention from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Clearinghouse Awards for contingency planning and emergency response.

Paula told the board the managers recommended budget for 2025–26 had been presented to the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and that one change had been made to the elections budget before the packet: the training budget was adjusted by eliminating an IT staff person for the conference amount. The board was invited to the county budget sessions beginning Friday at 8:30 a.m. in the same meeting room; the budget meeting is an open meeting.

Paula said Rockingham County’s entry in the EAC’s 2024 Clearinghouse Awards earned an honorable mention in the contingency planning category for small and medium jurisdictions. She thanked partner agencies — emergency management, 911, the sheriff’s office, local fire departments and police departments — and named Rodney Cates for organizing coordination. A board member asked about who else from North Carolina received recognition; Paula said several larger counties received awards and other counties, including Durham, received honorable mention.

A board member praised Paula and her staff for developing and orchestrating the emergency plan, saying, “We do need to recognize Paula and her group who actually came up with the thoughts, with the ideas, and came up with the plan, and orchestrated it.” Paula responded that the safe election was reward enough.

No budget vote was recorded at the meeting, and the EAC recognition was an informational item. The board subsequently moved into a closed session citing NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6) and NCGS 143-318.11(a)(1) for personnel and privileged/confidential information, and then voted to adjourn at 11:21 a.m.