County clerk urges Gunnison to budget $4 per-registered-voter for 2027 election services

Sanpete County Clerk Linda Deschamps told the Gunnison City Council on Aug. 5 that the county’s draft interlocal agreement for 2027 proposes a base election administration fee of $4 per registered voter and clarified that city recorders retain key responsibilities for local filings and ballot review. "The base election administration fee is $4 per registered voter for each election," Deschamps said, noting that the figure does not fully cover county costs for printing, postage, specialized equipment and audits.

Deschamps walked council members through operational details the agreement emphasizes: city recorders must participate in poll worker training, pick up and deliver ballots to maintain chain of custody, and verify ballot criteria before ballots are finalized. She said Gunnison currently has about 1,020 registered voters and encouraged councils to budget for both general and possible primary costs. "By partnering with the county, your city avoids having to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in optical tabulators," Deschamps said. Council members discussed whether to host a local polling location in a presidential year and raised staffing and equipment constraints; Deschamps cautioned that adding a polling site would require sustained trained volunteers or staff.

Why it matters: The change raises a predictable line-item in municipal budgets and clarifies tasks the city must perform to meet statutory canvassing, disclosure, and ballot-handling requirements. The county clerk asked the city to review the draft with its attorney and return an executed agreement by April 2027. The clerk also urged early planning so the city can schedule canvass meetings within the statutory window after elections.