City clerk asks for election equipment and staff increases as state elections approach

City Clerk Tina explained the city’s election and registration budget and said staffing needs will rise because of two state elections scheduled this year. Tina told the finance committee that while the state supplies ballots for state contests — lowering direct printing costs — staffing, postage and supply needs still increase election years.

"Because the state provides the ballots, I don't have any cost" for printing those ballots, Tina said, but she added that census‑related mailings and in‑house folding and stuffing require staff time and supplies. She said bringing some production in‑house has saved the city money compared with outsourcing to a vendor.

Tina outlined historical volatility in election staffing costs: routine municipal elections cost roughly $11,000 in staffing, while state and federal election years and special votes can roughly double that figure. The office also asked for three specialized computers programmed for election operations — equipment the administration plans to purchase from funds in another departmental budget (Mark’s budget) to avoid risking failures on election day.

Council members sought clarification about the numbers and noted past anomalies (for example, the 2025 special election for a school vote). Tina said she builds the budget on expected postage rates and staffing needs and that part of the cost variability stems from requirements for state and federal contests (longer polling hours and heavier turnout).

The committee did not act on a separate request for additional recurring resources but accommodated the equipment request by identifying alternative departmental funds.