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County to offer election services in May
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@acnpapers.com
Collin County will provide election services to cities and school districts in May 2012, but increased costs means the county is not sure how many entities will take them up on their offer.
When Senate Bill 100 was passed by the State Legislature in May, counties were no longer required to provide services during even-numbered years. The reason for the change was due to the early voting for the state primary runoffs beginning two days after Election Day for city and school elections. With the elections in close proximity, the counties were given relief by the legislature.
At a budget work session on Monday, County Election's Administrator Sharon Rowe presented the commissioner's court with several options dealing with May 2012 elections.
However, after hearing from cities and school districts in the county, Rowe took a second look and came up with a plan to assist in local elections. Under the plan, which was adopted by the court, a large percentage of the costs will be passed on to the entities, raising the total cost of the elections.
The plan calls for the county to purchase voting machines and provide the coding and counting of the ballots, while being reimbursed for the full cost of the machines by the city or school district. The court also set aside $400,000 in contingency to help comply with SB 100.
"This money will be used to add permanent staffing and pay the ongoing costs for the added equipment necessary to run the election," said Bill Bilyeu, county administrator. "The cities and ISDs have to agree to purchase the needed equipment and the additional out-of-pocket expenses to set up the election."
Two new staff members will be hired by the county -- one to assist with early voting and one to serve as a functional analyst to help with project management. Those two positions will cost the county about $200,000.
Since the county has to front the costs of the new machines, cities and school districts must sign a binding agreement with the county to participate in the election. The deadline for signup is Oct. 1, and the jurisdictions will be on the hook for the cost of the machines even if they decide to not hold elections next May.
While the county is providing election services, the plan may not be well-received. With the costs passed on, the price of elections could skyrocket. The city of Plano paid about $25,000 for its May 2011 elections, while the quote provided by the county for the May 2012 elections is $126,000. Similar cost increases have been observed in Plano ISD, where the quote cost was $150,000 more than the district typically spends.
Plano and Plano ISD are expected to lengthen the terms of their elected officials and hold elections only in odd-numbered years. Since the county is still required to offer its services in these years, prices should remain the same as they were in 2011. For the city to change the terms, a charter election must be called and voters must approve the change.
"We know we can absolutely control our costs with that," Plano Councilman Ben Harris said, voicing his favor for the charter election.
Two other options presented to the court were not favorably received. One involved the county continuing to offer election services in even-numbered years, with the county picking up all the cost. This would cost the county about $4 million and got no support. The other option involved the county offering no assistance during even-numbered years, a plan that proved unpopular.
Staff writer Jessica Rush contributed to this report.
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