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Commissioners weigh higher pay for election technicians and absentee-board workers
Summary
County election leaders urged pay adjustments — technicians who set up and tear down machines and absentee-board workers who staff early voting — citing recruitment problems, long hours and heavy equipment handling.
Election-board representatives urged Scott County officials to raise pay for positions tied to election operations so the county can recruit and retain workers needed for long election days and heavy lifting.
"Technicians…they're moving 65 machines that weigh about 30, 40 pounds a piece," the election-board presenter said while defending higher technician pay and a proposed $1,000 per-election technician stipend. Commissioners discussed whether to move some funds between technician pay, absentee-board pay and other lines to balance the budget.
Absentee-board workers — who the presenter said work 28 days before elections from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — were proposed to be increased toward $60 per day (previously as low as roughly $50), and commissioners discussed whether raising that stipend would improve recruitment and ensure bipartisan representation. Officials said some long-term technicians indicated they would not return if pay fell below prior levels.
The presenter offered options to offset costs (reducing some lines or removing the 10% across-the-board increase) and noted an overall projected $540 decrease in personal services in the election budget as presented. Commissioners deferred any final salary decisions pending a forthcoming county wage study.
