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Board recommends $622,770 FY26-27 elections budget, debates pay reallocation
Summary
After reviewing line items and small amendments, the Rockingham County Board of Elections voted to recommend a $622,770 fiscal year 2026-27 budget to county commissioners; board members discussed staffing, outreach, testing, and a proposed reallocation of board pay that still requires commissioners' approval.
The Rockingham County Board of Elections voted to recommend a $622,770 elections budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to the county commissioners after a detailed presentation of line items and a brief debate over a proposed reallocation of board pay.
Miss Singer walked the board through the proposed budget and supporting estimates. Key figures included an estimated $125,000 for precinct and early-voting officials (96 early-voting officials and roughly 200 precinct officials across 14 precincts), $20,000 for absentee mailings and voter confirmation cards, an estimated $25,500 for ballot testing and printing, $11,000 for ballot coding and layout, $4,400 for livestream services (Royce Sawyer), and a proposed $9,850 for expanded audio/video outreach programs.
Miss Singer said she had submitted a recommended reallocation of board monthly salary and election pay to the county clerk for consideration by the board of commissioners — combining monthly salary and election pay into a single monthly allocation and adding a $50 cell phone allowance and a $75 travel allowance — and emphasized the total pay would not change. "The amount in our budget will not change," she said.
Several board members raised procedural concerns about that item, saying they objected to staff sending the reallocation proposal to the commissioners before the board had a chance to discuss it fully. One board member said, "I have a massive issue of sending something off without this board it coming through this board." Other members said they had no opposition to the overall budget and that the board should recommend the total amount to the commissioners.
Following discussion and minor amendments made during the meeting, the board voted by voice to recommend the $622,770 budget (as amended) to the board of county commissioners. Miss Singer said she will meet with county management and notify the board of any changes; the commissioners are scheduled to meet soon, and the recommendation will appear on their agenda for final action.
