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Board approves temporary Elections staff hours after director says pay is low
Summary
Elections Director Ms. Bell told commissioners she is underpaid and requested a full-time position; the board instead approved a one-month part-time hire (not to exceed 150 hours) and later granted an additional 199 hours to the current part-time employee.
Elections Director Ms. Bell told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on June 11 that the State Board of Elections had told her she is "grossly under paid" and requested additional staff and a pay increase.
Commissioner Johnson suggested two part-time positions could justify the director’s pay; Ms. Bell said she could work with that but reiterated a full-time person would best meet upcoming workload. The Board approved hiring a part-time worker for one month not to exceed 150 hours (motion carried unanimously). Later, the Board approved adding 199 hours to the current part-time employee’s allocation; that vote carried 4-1, with Commissioner Sexton opposed.
Why it matters: With an election approaching, commissioners approved temporary staffing to support the Elections office while further staffing and compensation questions remain for later consideration.
County Manager Curtis Potter noted some election expenses may be covered from COVID-19-related funds set aside for Elections, and Ms. Bell provided budget justification materials for commissioners to review.
The approved motions add roughly $2,000 to the Elections part-time line, according to the Clerk’s records.
The Board will continue budget discussions on June 15.
