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Elections director requests full-time coordinator; commissioners flag timing, budget options
Summary
The county elections office requested a full-time elections coordinator at an all-in FY26 cost of roughly $83,433; commissioners discussed timing and whether to fund the position in the FY26 ordinance and staff advised a likely August 1 or October 1 start if approved.
Chatham County's elections office requested funding for a full-time elections coordinator position as part of FY26 expansion requests, and board members discussed whether to include the position in the adopted budget.
Staff said the full annual cost of the coordinator position, including salary, benefits and equipment, was about $83,433. Because many expansion requests are budgeted for part-year hires, staff recommended funding a new hire at 92 percent of full-year cost (an August 1 effective date) if the board chose to approve it; staff estimated a 92 percent funded cost for the position at roughly $78,789.
Commissioners described several practical reasons to consider early funding: a volunteer who previously supplied a large amount of operational support is leaving and the elections office will face heightened workloads leading into the 2026 municipal and other elections; hiring earlier could give the coordinator time to train before peak activity. Staff cautioned that even with approval, recruitment and required posting timelines mean an October 1 start date is more realistic than an immediate hire in mid-June.
Why it matters: Elections staffing affects the county's ability to run and support elections, manage ballots, and handle post-election activities such as recounts. Commissioners emphasized continuity and said they wanted the elections office and budget staff to work through timing and to present options that balance the need with overall budget constraints.
Ending: No formal decision was recorded during the workshop; commissioners signaled interest in funding the coordinator but asked staff to show budget impacts and timing scenarios ahead of the June budget ordinance.
