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Kent County commissioners approve modest pay increase for election judges; board seeks office‑space plan
Summary
The Kent County Board of County Commissioners approved a proposal from the Board of Elections to raise election‑judge pay and asked elections staff for documentation about office needs and relocation timing.
The Kent County Board of County Commissioners voted to increase pay for election judges after a presentation from the county Board of Elections.
Lisa Thompson, introduced as president of the Kent County Board of Elections, asked the commission to approve higher pay for election workers; Election Director Shamani Blake told commissioners the increase could be absorbed by the elections budget. "Our budget can sustain that," Blake said, explaining the office plans to eliminate contracted greeters and reassign some duties to election judges to offset costs.
Blake said the board was asking for a $50 increase for chief judges and a $25 increase for regular judges and explained recruitment pressures, noting that last election’s judge pool was weighted toward one party and that higher pay could attract more balanced participation. Commissioners sought clarification about current pay and supporting analysis and received copies of a comparative pay analysis. President Fithian and other commissioners asked the elections office to provide the relevant regulations for equipment and to meet about office‑space options; Blake said current equipment will be larger and that the office is "desperately in need of a space." Commissioner (speaker 2) asked whether the budget could handle the proposal; Blake responded the budget can sustain the increases.
Commissioner (speaker 2) moved and the board approved the pay adjustments, with commissioners saying the cost would be absorbed in the FY2026 Board of Elections budget. Commissioners also requested that staff follow up with documentation on the state on‑site equipment rule and a timeline for any office relocation so the board can review facility options and related permit or lease issues.
The action: a motion to increase chief judges’ pay by $50 and regular judges’ pay by $25 was made and approved. The Board of Elections will supply requested documents on on‑site equipment rules and meet with commissioners about office space and relocation timing.
Next steps: Elections staff will deliver the requested regulatory documentation and meet with commissioners to discuss office‑space options and a timeline for relocation.
