Supervisor of Elections, Shirley Anderson, explained her budget at the September 3rd Budget Hearing and warned Commissioners that not properly funding the office could have negative consequences beyond the county and the state.
After reviewing a litany of responsibilities carried out by the Supervisor of Elections Office, Ms. Anderson stated, “To comply with everything that I’ve just mentioned, we are finally dependent on the Board of County Commissioners to adequately fund our office, but we are accountable to the taxpayers and voters of Hernando County… Unlike other Constitutional officers and your departments, the election office budget is cyclical. Every budget cycle has at least one election in it. The cycle we are currently discussing happens once every four years with two elections happening within a budget year and we’re also preparing for the Presidential election. ” The two elections that fall within FY2015-2016 is the the Presidential Preference Primary on March 15, 2016 and the August 30th Primary.
She explained that there are many things that the office needs to get in place for the presidential election before Oct.1st of next year. “Although it is held in the following budget cycle- I cannot wait until October 1, 2016 to lay the groundwork for this historic election,” Ms. Anderson said. She also stated, “With the eyes of the nation on Florida always, there are ramifications for decisions that can be made here tonight.” There are many uncertainties: including if Hernando County will be caught up in the redistricting with the Florida Supreme Court, the turnout of an election, and the size of the ballot.
Ms. Anderson said that the revised budget of $1,247,539 reflects running two elections and prepping for the Presidential Election. Former Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams requested $1.14 million for FY 2011-2012 in which the last presidential election cycle fell. The Commission at the time elected to trim the budget for this office by approximately 7% according to a letter by Williams to the Commission on October 19, 2011. However the FY 2008 budget was funded at nearly $1.4 million.
Ms. Anderson cut $136,474 from her original budget for FY 2015-2016. She stated that she decreased days and hours for early voting to the minimum allowed by Florida Law, excluded vote by mail postage for the 2016 presidential cycle, rolled back staff salaries, and negotiated savings in the contract with the new voting equipment vendor to reduce the budget. She warned that there is nothing in the budget to cover any costs due to redistricting. She gave a cost estimate of up to $60,000 if Hernando County is involved in the senate map redrawing. She also mentioned that they have received $64K worth of grant money.
Ms. Anderson showed a comparison of how her office measures up to that of counties of a similar size and number of registered voters. Our neighbor to the north, Citrus County has 103,000 voters with a proposed budget of $1.6 million. Hernando County has 124,274 voters and a proposed budget of $1.2 million. She explained that we’re right in the middle with the number of voters for counties of a similar size and her budget is on the lower side. She also stated that 100% of any unspent money is returned to the county budget.
Whether the budget will be accepted or further cuts made is unclear. The final budget hearing is scheduled for September 22nd at 5:01pm at the John Law Ayers Room 20 N. Main Street Brooksville, FL 34601.