Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections And Records topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clerk-recorder previews $3.6M elections cost for 2026; preservation and staffing steady
Summary
County Clerk-Recorder’s office told commissioners its largest 2026 budget items are elections (estimated $3.6M for primary and general) and a $100,000 annual book-preservation contract. The office warned federal/state reimbursements arrive after elections and noted ongoing staffing shifts across vehicle, recording and elections functions.
Josh Silbelbaum, Adams County Clerk and Recorder, presented the office’s 2026 requests, telling commissioners that elections are the year’s largest single cost and that the office plans to continue a long‑running book preservation project.
Silbelbaum said the 2026 calendar includes a statewide primary and the general election; the combined cost to run both is roughly $3.6 million. Major recurring costs cited were postage, longer and translated ballots (Spanish), and vendor support for printers, ballots and tabulation hardware. The office said much of the state reimbursement comes in arrears and that federal/state grants and reimbursements may not fully cover faster-rising operational expenses.
On records and archives, the office reiterated a $100,000 annual book‑preservation contract to digitize and preserve century‑old county records; the work is part of a 10‑year plan with vendor CoFile and includes digitization of fragile county‑road petitions and ditch records. The clerk noted that microfilm and microfiche equipment is obsolete and that digitization both preserves originals and helps public access records online.
Silbelbaum also recapped the department structure: motor vehicle, recording, elections, and administration with an outreach coordinator and deputy registrars in high schools. He said recording revenue is sensitive to the economy and to a statutory change that set a flat $40 recording fee for most documents. He described efforts to hold down discretionary costs (food for election workers was cut to a single election‑day meal) while maintaining operations.
The clerk’s office said most budget increases reflect wage and benefit assumptions and statutory changes. Commissioners thanked staff and commended outreach and volunteer‑style programs such as high‑school deputy registrars and the county’s vaccination/outreach work.
Ending
The clerk asked for continued flexibility around election costs that fluctuate by year; commissioners asked the office to return with any changes affecting the draft county budget.
