Supervisor of Elections flags modest FY26 increase, cautions on new petition-mailing cost and early‑voting needs

Supervisor of Elections reported that the office is preparing a preliminary FY26 budget and expects a small increase tied to election scheduling, labor costs and new or shifting state costs.

“Of all the 67 supervisor of elections offices in our great state, my office has consistently been one of the lowest with regards to cost per voter,” the supervisor said, adding the FY26 request should remain “minimal” and that she expects to finalize numbers in the coming weeks.

Why it matters: Pasco will administer the 2026 midterm cycle, which includes an August primary and will require upfront spending for the general election; the supervisor said election years that include primaries typically increase short‑term costs.

Details from the presentation - Preliminary budget increase: The supervisor estimated a minimal increase around 5% but cautioned that figure was preliminary and would be finalized before submission. - Election-cycle and staffing costs: Pasco’s office runs a large temporary workforce during elections and is sensitive to minimum‑wage increases; the supervisor said the office can be one of the county’s largest employers during election months because of seasonal poll workers. - Early voting and technology: Growth and politicization of vote-by-mail have shifted some demand back to in-person voting, the supervisor said, which can require additional early‑voting sites and associated staffing and facility costs. The office also anticipates some IT services that were previously supported by the Department of Homeland Security could require local funding; she estimated those IT items at roughly $15,000–$20,000. - Petition‑signer mailing requirement: The supervisor described Senate Bill 7016, which (as drafted) would require local offices to send mail to any registered voter who signs an initiative petition to confirm that they did sign it; she estimated the postage and mailing cost for Pasco would be about $50,000–$70,000 depending on volumes. The lawmaker in the House (she said) is Marcus Powell; she said a companion bill exists in the House. She told the board she expected the measure to pass.

Next steps - The supervisor will finalize and submit the budget after the current municipal cycle is closed and state session outcomes are known. She asked commissioners to expect a modest increase and said her office will provide specific figures once legislative outcomes and final election schedules are settled.

Ending - The supervisor invited questions and reaffirmed the office’s commitment to efficient administration of elections in Pasco County.