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Cochise County supervisors review recorder's budget, note modest net decrease and HAVA security spending
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Summary
At a April 16 work session, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors reviewed the county recorder's proposed budget, which shows a modest net decrease in general fund support, increased document-storage carryforward and a roughly $58,000 rise in HAVA-funded security projects; staff said no new funding requests were required.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on April 16 reviewed the county recorder's proposed budget during a work session in Bismarck.
County staff told the board the recorder's budget shows a modest overall reduction in general fund support, driven by a $10,000 increase in revenues from quarterly fees and reduced expenditures. Supervisor Gomez, who introduced the item, characterized the proposed plan as "very modest changes" and said staff balanced market-compensation adjustments with offsetting cuts to supply and travel lines.
The staff presentation explained that market-adjustment pay increases totaled about $8,144 and were funded to move positions toward 94.5% of the county's market compensation target. To offset those costs, the recorder's office reduced line items including postage, conference registrations, printing and equipment maintenance by approximately $9,350.
Staff also described a $171,499 increase in the document-storage fund balance that the office plans to carry forward in the budget. The recorder's office noted that the fund is restricted by state statute and is supported by a statutory fee assessed on recorded documents; staff described it as a preservation fund with limited allowable uses.
Officials reported the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) grant allocation for the office rose by about $58,000 compared with the prior year. Staff said those grant dollars are planned for security-related improvements in the elections area, including installing interior windows to improve sight lines from the lobby and expanding camera coverage between the front door and the election workspace.
The recorder special-election fund (Fund 323) was described as a cash carryforward and contingency account; staff said there are no active plans to spend from it but the balance is retained for any required special elections.
Supervisors praised recorder's-office staff, including the deputy recorder and the county budget manager, for managing the budget. Board members confirmed there were no additional funding requests from the recorder's office for the coming year.
The board scheduled the next meeting with the county assessor at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned the work session. Work sessions do not include public comment, and none was taken.
