The Board of Estimate and Taxation on Dec. 1 approved a contingency transfer of $163,500 to cover budget overruns in the Norwalk registrar of voters office tied to expanded early voting, new statewide tabulators and related staffing and security costs.

The transfer request, presented by Registrar Diana Paladino Christopher, sought the funds to reimburse overruns already incurred during the 2025 election cycle and to cover projected payroll and operational work the office must complete through the end of the fiscal year. "We are requesting the contingency transfer, of approximately a 164,000 to support our expanded, operational demands of the 2025 election cycle," Paladino Christopher said, citing record turnout, 14 days of early voting, a Sept. 9 primary and redistricting that required multiple mailings and polling-place changes.

Why it matters: the office said higher staffing costs, mandatory training for new state-issued tabulators and police details for polling locations and early-voting periods drove the overrun. Paladino Christopher told the board roughly 4,300 voters used the two-week early-voting period citywide while about 15,000 voted on Election Day; she also stated the city has about 56,000 registered voters. She said security costs were about $51,000 and temporary poll-worker wages for the primary and municipal general approached $203,000.

Board members pressed for details on the split between security and staffing costs, the role of mail ballots and whether the city should plan for fewer early-voting days in future budgets. "It is not relative to the actual dollar amount. It's to the timing," board member Miss Yang said when casting the meeting's lone vote against the transfer, asking whether the office could reduce spending before drawing on contingency. Several members replied that the transfer is to replace money already spent and that longer-term budget adjustments could be considered in the FY27 process.

Tom (BET member) summarized contingency balances after the vote: the fiscal-year contingency remaining was about $738,000 before the transfer and approximately $574,000 afterward. The board approved the transfer by voice vote with one dissenting vote.

The board also approved routine minutes and reviewed contingency tracker updates before adjourning. The chair asked staff to consider Miss Yang's forward-looking suggestions for next year's budget process while noting the current request covers expenses already incurred.

The item will be reflected in the city's contingency tracker and the registrar's office will continue required training and post-election canvass work through the fiscal year.