Gates County elections office seeks larger budget for staff and equipment

Christie, the elections director, asked Gates County leaders to approve budget increases to shore up staffing, replace ageing election technology and secure election equipment ahead of new state requirements.

Christie said the board previously moved on March 18 to raise the director’s salary into a $50,000–$55,000 range and told members she had completed required state training within the past three years. "We're asking for an increase for the director to be 50,000," she said during the presentation, citing minutes from the March 18 meeting.

Why it matters: Christie told the board new state mandates and tighter deadlines mean the office needs a consistent, full‑time presence to avoid missed compliance steps and audit risk. She argued that relying on two part‑time employees leaves the office vulnerable when staff are sick, on jury duty or otherwise unavailable.

Key proposals and figures - Full‑time specialist: Christie asked the board to convert or add a full‑time elections specialist to replace two part‑time roles, saying a single full‑time person would provide continuity and better meet mandated deadlines. - Director pay: Christie referenced a March 18 motion to raise director pay into a $50,000–$55,000 range and said she has the minutes documenting that action; the transcript contains no formal vote on additional 2025 budget figures. - Training pay: Poll workers currently receive a flat $15 training stipend regardless of how long training lasts; Christie said workers "just get a flat fee of $15" and asked that training pay be changed to an hourly rate so people are compensated for longer sessions. Board members debated whether to keep a small flat stipend or move to hourly pay, with concerns raised about fairness and administrative cost. - Equipment and technology: Christie said handheld scanners are no longer being manufactured and that the state is requiring scanners for ballot handling. She requested roughly $12,000 to replace aging laptops and buy scanners; she also said the office has about 14 laptops now and estimated needing additional units depending on whether handheld scanners become available. Christie said the thumb drives the office uses from vendor "ES and S" cost about $100 each and the office will likely need about 10, increasing equipment costs. - Security and facilities: To secure equipment and restrict volunteer access, Christie requested $6,000 for repairs and locks and asked for a wall to separate the elections office from a co‑located food bank. She also said some equipment is stored in an "old prison" facility and requested funds or space solutions if a tenant called "Jim's" remains in parts of the building.

Board reaction and context Board members pressed for details on quantities and costs, comparing Gates County to neighboring counties' staffing models and pay (Hartford and Chowan were discussed as comparators). Several members emphasized retention problems among election directors across the district, noting recent retirements and resignations that have left counties short‑staffed. Committee members debated whether a flat stipend is preferable to an hourly rate for training pay, with one member saying a small flat fee helps standardize costs while others argued hourly pay would be fairer to slower trainees.

What was not decided The transcript records discussion and clarifying questions but does not show a formal vote on the new budget requests or the specific line‑item increases presented. Christie identified herself only by her first name in the transcript; the board asked follow‑up questions and indicated they would seek clarifying information from IT and buildings staff.

Next steps Board members said they would follow up with county IT and buildings staff about equipment sourcing, quantities and potential space solutions. No final budget action or tally was recorded in the portion of the meeting provided in the transcript.