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County staff outline $8 million plan for new Board of Elections facility
Summary
Staff told commissioners the Board of Elections needs about 11,000 sq ft of space, including an estimated 3,000 sq ft warehouse, and that the CIP currently programs $100,000 for design in FY28 and $8,000,000 for construction in FY29; staff said using county land is preferred and design will refine costs.
County staff presented the Board of Elections’ budget and a proposed new facility during a Queen Anne’s County budget work session. The operating budget shows only modest increases — including roughly $67,000 for COLA/merit and $105,000 for non-capital lease payments earmarked for poll books and voting equipment — while a separate capital plan programs design and construction for a new elections facility.
The most immediate capital ask is for design funding in fiscal 2028 and a construction appropriation in fiscal 2029. Staff described a program based on roughly 11,000 square feet, using an assumed unit cost of about $700 per square foot to reflect escalation; the current CIP entries list $100,000 for design in FY28 and $8,000,000 for construction in FY29.
Staff said the new space would combine warehouse and office functions, and include training space for election judges. “We’re applying a unit cost of about $700 per square foot,” staff member Edgar said, calling that a conservative industry-escalated estimate for a mix of warehouse and office space. Christine, who described current operational constraints, said the elections office lacks adequate room to perform equipment maintenance or training and currently relies on shared conference space and a cramped warehouse of roughly 800–936 square feet. She said the program envisions about 3,000 square feet for warehouse/storage and equipment preparation so staff can work on systems without constantly shifting pallets and equipment.
Commissioners asked whether the new building could serve as an early voting site if it is located near town; Christine said it could, but location decisions would determine which precincts might be affected. Staff also reviewed ballot-retention rules, noting paper ballots must be kept for at least about 22–24 months and may be retained longer if litigation occurs.
Staff emphasized that the design phase is expected to refine both space needs and construction costs. They also said the county would likely use county-owned land where practical and that public works will collaborate on site development. If the project moves forward on the present schedule, staff indicated the timeline could align with primary-election needs in the target construction year.
Next steps: design in FY28 to refine scope and cost estimates, followed by a construction request in FY29 per the CIP schedule.
