Board of Elections defends pay restructuring as Commissioners press for transparency on overtime and budget

Mark Alberini, chair of the Board of Elections, and the board’s director, Stephanie, appeared before the Commissioners to explain recent compensation restructuring for the director and deputy director. Alberini said the board did not grant raises but converted hourly-plus‑overtime pay into a higher salaried range with overtime eligibility reduced or eliminated for those positions. He argued the change smooths peaks and valleys tied to mandated election workloads and makes budgeting more predictable.

Commissioners pressed for detail on how the new structure compares to other counties, whether the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act applies to the roles, and how the restructured pay relates to lower‑paid staff. One Commissioner said the change made the top officers’ total compensation appear significantly higher than immediate subordinates and asked whether the directors’ prior overtime had been the primary driver of their total compensation.

Why it matters: The Board of Elections’ operations are statutorily required and can produce large overtime costs in heavy election years. Commissioners said they must balance statutory obligations to fund elections with fairness across county employees and compliance with federal wage rules. The prosecutor and county HR staff participated, advising both the board and Commissioners to check FLSA classifications and to coordinate on budget appropriations.

What’s next: The Commissioners said they will review provided comparables and budget numbers at their budget meeting; the Board of Elections said it will provide spreadsheets and documentation of forecasting, and both sides agreed to continue cooperation before final appropriation decisions.

Sources: Remarks by Mark Alberini (chair, Board of Elections) and the board director Stephanie during the workshop.