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Auditor flags rising election and mailing costs as lawmakers change notice rules
Summary
Candy told commissioners that legislative language changes require reprinted, color-coded envelopes and that rising postage is driving up election and tax-notice mailing expenses; staff increased election envelope projections accordingly.
Ramsey County Auditor (identified in transcript as Candy) briefed commissioners on administrative budget items with a focus on election and mailing costs, copier leases and HR contracting.
Candy (Speaker 7) said legislative changes forced reprinting of some election envelopes with new color-coding, so she increased the election envelope line from $45,000 to about $48,000 to cover the cost. "They're color coding envelopes now," Candy said, explaining the change and why she had to increase the budgeted amount.
She also warned that postage costs have risen and that multiple mandated mailings (March, August, December) and absentee-ballot mailings drive postage and mailing expenses. Candy described a strategy of targeted mailings and website notices to limit mass returns and save postage.
Other administrative items Candy covered included potential tablet replacement on the capital outlay list, the pending copier lease and options to downgrade costly features to reduce ongoing lease expenses, and HR contract arrangements with a base rate and added hours billed as needed.
Next steps: Candy will confirm whether DocuSign Pro and other software needs should be charged to her capital outlay, continue vendor discussions on copier options and present final election mailing numbers for inclusion in the public hearing materials.
