Election commission approves 2024–25 budget, adds $35,300 for postage and approves poll-worker pay increases

The Davidson County Election Commission approved its 2024–25 operating budget and accepted an administration request to add $35,300 to cover increased postage and printing costs tied to voter growth.

AOE Roberts told commissioners the $35,300 request is driven by a higher number of registered voters in Davidson County and the administrative cost of printing and postage. "We're asking for that additional money to help us cover those those 2 increased costs," Roberts said during the budget presentation.

Commissioners pressed Roberts on whether the budget provides for additional staff given county growth. Roberts said there are vacant positions and that executive staff are discussing what positions might be needed ahead of the presidential election, but the commission's presented budget is a static salary budget; broader payroll and classification changes would be proposed separately by the administration.

Roberts also confirmed poll officials are included in the election-day figures and that poll officials have not had a pay increase since 2015. "They haven't had an increase since 2015," Roberts said, noting the administration seeks to bring poll-official pay closer to competitive rates.

After discussion, a motion to approve the budget was made and seconded and the commission voted in favor with no opposition. The meeting record shows the budget motion carried unanimously.

The commission did not revise the budget line items during the meeting; administration staff will pursue any further payroll or classification recommendations through the standard Metro process.