Dare County elections staff say commissioners likely to approve operating and personnel requests; final budget expected by July 1

At the April 15 meeting the director and Chair Skip reported they attended an April 4 budget workshop with county commissioners and described the discussion as "productive." Kelly, director of elections, said the workshop focused on the department’s operating budget and a personnel request the department seeks to fill.

Chair Skip and Kelly both said they are optimistic commissioners will fund the department’s request, including a new position that staff and board members said would ease workload pressures. "The new position hire that should come out of this... may even give our director some breathing room to be able to have some time with her family," Chair Skip said, praising commissioners for supporting the department’s needs.

Kelly outlined the county’s budget timetable: operating budgets typically are finalized in June so funds can be available by the July 1 start of the fiscal year, and commissioners will hold a public meeting in May where budget items can receive public comment. Kelly added that some capital improvement plan (CIP) items may be decided on a different timeline because of larger dollar amounts and separate CIP hearings.

Board members asked when staff would know precisely which items were funded. Kelly said the county should have clarity within a month and that staff will follow up; she also said the county’s budget depends in part on the state budget timetable.

No formal personnel appointments or hiring actions were taken at the April 15 meeting; staff are awaiting final county budget decisions before proceeding.