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County clerk asks commissioners to draft ordinance allowing meal allowances for election workers
Summary
Rush County clerk asked commissioners to draft an ordinance authorizing a meal allowance for poll workers when volunteer providers are unavailable, saying she has $4,000 to cover both elections and that a $25 allowance per worker could cut costs compared with catered meals.
The county clerk asked the Rush County commissioners on Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would let the clerk pay a meal allowance to election workers when local groups cannot provide meals.
"I am here to ask for an ordinance to be approved in accordance with the statutes that is part of the election law chapter," the clerk said, requesting the change as a backup if volunteer groups or churches are unable to cater polling-place meals. "I have $4,000 to cover both elections."
The clerk told commissioners she researched other counties and said a per-worker allowance could lower costs. "If you do the math $25 at with 50 poll workers it would be $12.5 per election versus the $1,500 to $1,700 that we paid out in the past," she said, noting Fayette, Decatur and Randolph counties use different approaches.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about whether inspectors or precinct officials retain responsibility for arranging meals. The clerk said the ordinance would be permissive — it would allow the clerk to pay an allowance when necessary but would not prevent community groups from continuing to provide meals.
The commission voted to move forward with the request and asked the clerk to work with staff to draft an ordinance; the clerk said she would follow up with county staff to prepare proposed language for a future meeting.
The commission did not adopt any ordinance at the meeting; the item advances as a drafting request and will return to the board for consideration.
