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Minnehaha County accepts HAVA and CTCL grants to cover COVID-19 election costs
Summary
Minnehaha County approved $31,473 in HAVA Cares Act funds and $91,266 in Center for Tech and Civic Life funds to pay postage, precinct officials, election equipment and overtime related to the 2020 election. The Commission authorized budget supplements to allocate the funds.
Minnehaha County commissioners on Nov. 24 approved acceptance of two grants totaling $122,739 intended to offset county election costs tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditor Bob Litz asked the board to accept an HAVA Cares Act award of $31,473 and a private Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) grant of $91,266; the motions passed by 5-0.
The HAVA funds were allocated in the budget supplement to postage ($11,540), printing ($3,477) and overtime ($16,456). The CTCL grant was earmarked for postage ($50,000), precinct officials ($27,266) and election equipment ($14,000), according to the Auditor’s Office memo presented to the Commission.
Litz told commissioners the grants would help cover expenses incurred to operate the election during the pandemic, including additional mailings, equipment and personnel costs. The Commission voted to accept both grants and authorize the corresponding automatic budget supplements.
The acceptance follows state and federal guidance that allowed jurisdictions to seek reimbursement or supplemental funding for pandemic-related election expenses. The Auditor’s Office will record the grant revenue and the specified expenditures in the county’s 2020 budgets.
