[0:09] Members of clock ready.
[0:14] Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we'll
call our meeting to order. This is the
[0:17] Rockingham County Board of Elections
special meeting. Um, we have an agenda
[0:22] before us that we have received. First
order of business would be to approve
[0:27] the agenda. Is there a motion? Motion is
that official
[0:31] » been properly moved and seconded to
approve the agenda. All in favor will
[0:34] say I. All those no. The eyes have it.
The agenda is approved. Uh Miss
[0:40] Seamster.
>> Okay. The first item on the agenda um we
[0:44] had a notice. Well, I'm seeking approval
of a notice of candidacy by petition for
[0:52] Ryan Boon Young for sheriff and the
unaffiliated
[0:58] petition is what he filled out. Um, he
had to receive 2540
[1:06] signatures.
He has exceeded that amount. And what
[1:12] I'm asking the board for tonight is the
approval to put him on the general
[1:17] election ballot, which is this fall. So,
and these are his signatures.
[1:26] » I'm sorry you said this fall.
>> That would be November the 3rd, but he
[1:32] will also be on the he will start going
out in the September absentee
[1:38] by mail ballots. But um the reason for
this, he had a deadline of March the 3rd
[1:46] by noon to get all of his signatures in
and he actually got all his in prior to
[1:54] that. We do have one other unaffiliated
candidate that is getting his petitions
[2:01] done and if he needs that then we'll
have that later as well. But right now,
[2:07] I'm just seeking approval of the notice
of candidacy by petition for Ryan Boon
[2:13] Young to be on the ballot this coming
November, the general election as an
[2:21] unaffiliated
sheriff.
[2:24] » Okay, members, you've heard uh Miss
Seamster's request um before motion.
[2:29] Does anyone have any further questions
or discussion for her?
[2:34] And if not, I would entertain a motion.
>> Mr. Chair, I make a motion that we
[2:38] approve the uh notice of candidacy by
petition for Ryan Young uh under
[2:44] affiliated.
>> Is there a second?
[2:48] » Second that.
>> All right. Further discussion, further
[2:51] debate. If not, um question is for Ryan
Young. This approval of notice for
[2:57] candidacy.
>> All in favor will say I
[3:01] no. You guys have it and Cassie is
approved.
[3:08] » Thanks.
>> Okay. The next item um and I've given
[3:12] you a little bit of a heads up before.
Um this is the approval of the fisc year
[3:18] 2025 2026 budget amendment for postage.
Um and this we may not need all of this,
[3:27] but right now we have $47 in our postage
amount.
[3:32] and I haven't received
the bill for the last couple of weeks,
[3:37] but what I am asking is that our general
supplies line item be reduced by 3,000
[3:45] and that our postage line item be
increased by 3,000. This is already in
[3:51] our budget, so it's just moving from one
line item to another. And um once the
[3:58] board approves or denies, if you approve
this, then it will move to the finance
[4:05] director for her to approve. And I'm not
sure if she'll have to take it before
[4:11] the commissioners or not, but the first
thing we have to do is for the local
[4:17] board to approve the budget revision.
>> Madam,
[4:22] I'm sorry.
>> We've heard Miss's request. Is there
[4:25] further questions for Miss Singster?
Miss Title?
[4:28] » Yes. Where does that leave us uh in the
budget as far as general supplies?
[4:33] » We're good.
>> We're good.
[4:35] » Okay.
>> Further questions or comments? Uh that's
[4:39] right.
>> No comment. Offer the motion.
[4:43] » Okay.
>> Ready for us? I offer a motion um for
[4:48] approval of the fiscal 202526
budget amendment as stated by Miss
[4:54] Seamster.
>> Is there a second?
[4:58] » Second.
>> Okay. It's been properly moved and
[5:01] seconded to approve fiscal year 2526
budget amendment as presented by Miss
[5:06] Seamster. All in favor of the motion
will signify by saying I. All those no.
[5:12] The eyes have it and the amendment is
approved. It seems to
[5:16] » okay the real reason why we're here um
entry seats you'll see the proposed
[5:24] board of elections budget for fiscal
year 2026 2027
[5:30] um
pretty much most of our budget which is
[5:36] regular salaries board members temporary
salaries
[5:41] election well the election precinct
salary I do that the health insurance,
[5:46] FICA,
[5:49] regular ret um irregular retirement,
unemployment, workers comp
[5:56] that is given to us from the county.
um the
[6:04] precinct officials. This is based on and
let me go back at the top of the page
[6:12] you'll see over to the right hand side I
have the fiscal year 2022 2023 that is
[6:20] the same type of election we will have
next fiscal year but I also incorporated
[6:27] the fiscal year 2024 2025 because that
is when a lot of the increases in
[6:34] printing and some of our contracts
increased. So I wanted to give a
[6:40] comparison
um so with the similar elections
[6:45] different fiscal years so you'll have
something to compare to and I'll provide
[6:50] this to the county as well. Um but just
going through the election precinct
[6:58] officials which is 4111
021
[7:04] in fiscal year 2022 2023
we did actual actually expend 72,983
[7:16] $90083
[7:20] during the fiscal year 2024 2025, we
expended $123,23326.
[7:30] And with my estimates on what we're
going to need for this general election,
[7:35] you'll see over to the side, we have 96
early voting officials. It is a 12-hour
[7:44] shift. We split that in half. And then
we have 14 precincts with approximately
[7:51] 200 officials, 12 to 14 per precinct.
Um, we have noticed over the last couple
[7:58] of years with the general elections, we
have about 75% of our population to show
[8:05] up for the general election. During the
primary election, we do not.
[8:11] this general election I am anticipating
about the 75 plus% to show up. Um so
[8:20] that is why I would like to leave put
that at 125,000 which is close to the
[8:26] 2024 2025 fiscal budget. Are there any
questions on that?
[8:31] » I want to thank you for presenting about
those fiscal years. That's very helpful.
[8:37] members um comments or questions from
>> on that category.
[8:43] » Okay. All right. Well, like I said, the
health insurance and the only thing with
[8:48] FICA that I added in here is the
temporary staff and the early voting
[8:54] officials based on the budget numbers
ahead. I mean, that were listed prior to
[9:00] that. So, moving on to the Rockingham
update live stream. Um that is Roy
[9:08] Sawyers who's doing our meeting tonight.
He usually does 12 regular meetings and
[9:14] we do have four special call meetings in
there. That could be for budget, that
[9:19] could be for uh a recount. There's many
things that we could have throughout the
[9:26] year. And um I did ask Roy if he was
having an increase and he said not this
[9:32] year. So that is the $4,400
that is included in there.
[9:40] » Members, further questions, further
comments?
[9:43] » I don't have a question on that
category, but right above it, just out
[9:47] of curiosity, I've never known insurance
to go down.
[9:51] » I haven't either. I found that very hard
to believe. The only thing I can figure
[9:56] is the workman comp claims have been low
and they lowered.
[9:59] » So they lowered our rates. Okay.
>> But you're right. I question that cuz it
[10:04] went from 189
up to 233
[10:09] and then back down to 155.
>> And the amount of claims probably does
[10:14] impact what you do.
>> Yeah.
[10:17] » Further comments or questions members
not the chair would entertain a motion
[10:24] » or not do
>> about the for the whole thing.
[10:30] You want me to keep going?
>> Well, keep going.
[10:32] » Go ahead.
>> Okay. All right.
[10:34] » Um, the legal
fee is 4123017.
[10:39] Um, we use Keenan and Craver out of
Durham. Um, we've always had just
[10:46] $15,000 in there. He's only paid when we
use his services. Um, that is the amount
[10:53] we have used since we started using him
in 2021.
[10:58] Um,
as you can see in the 2024 2025, we used
[11:04] a almost $11,000.
If we have a
[11:10] um hearing,
that's when the money goes up. Um, just
[11:17] like we just had one for the municipal
election that's in this budget year and
[11:22] that was a little right around $9,000.
So you never know when you might need
[11:30] that legal thing, but that was he came
for two different hearings. So
[11:37] » Oh, I do have a question about about
that. So if so that's what we've that
[11:44] number that 10,800 is for um
>> actual spent
[11:48] » for the year that we're still currently
in until the end of June.
[11:52] » This was actually for the 24th.
>> All right. We're in 26 now.
[11:57] » That was
rigs and
[12:02] » and refresh my memory. What what what
happened in that year that made us
[12:07] » That was the um Supreme Court.
>> Okay. Yes. Yes, I remember that now.
[12:12] Yeah.
>> Did we also have someone to challenge a
[12:15] candidate?
>> Yes, we did. That
[12:19] » we had a challenge for
House of Representatives.
[12:25] So,
>> so I may be stepping slightly out
[12:27] because it's not about this exact
budget, but where are we on that
[12:30] spending for the year that we're in in
case we have challenges in this early
[12:34] election?
>> We still have a little bit of money left
[12:37] in there.
>> Okay.
[12:38] » So, hopefully we will not, but
>> and the budget starts over in July.
[12:43] » July. Yeah,
>> that is correct. So, if we have any
[12:46] challenges, it will be during the
primary.
[12:49] » Yeah.
>> So, further questions?
[12:54] Okay. With the utilities,
um, we do pay for 30% or 2/3 of the
[13:02] cost. Um, and the county covers the rest
because the gym is part of this
[13:08] building. They pay 2/3 of that. Um, we
never know with Duke Energy whether it's
[13:15] going to go up or go down, but it's been
pretty consistent. Um, so
[13:23] I'm looking at $5,500
because we are
[13:29] right around the 5,000
mark is what it's been for the last two
[13:35] years with that 30%.
>> That's right.
[13:39] » I'm thinking
you might need to put a little more than
[13:43] that in there because I don't know about
anybody else's utility bill. Mine has
[13:48] tripled.
>> Yeah, they they've escalated quite a
[13:51] bit.
>> Yes, they have. Do you have any
[13:53] recommendations?
>> No, I don't. I just felt like this was
[13:56] so what?
>> My original amount was 6,200 and I
[14:00] reduced it to what it had been for the
last two years.
[14:05] » I have to agree with a few of you. you
might want to compensate for that
[14:09] because
>> yeah,
[14:10] » I'm expecting the not only had the first
two months been uh higher than normal,
[14:19] but and it's probably going to be that
same way in March, too.
[14:22] » Okay.
>> So, you'll go back to the 6,200.
[14:27] » That's are you would you be good with
that?
[14:30] » That's instead of the 4945 87.
>> Well, instead of the 55
[14:34] » 55 I'm sorry. Yes. 60
>> 60
[14:38] » 62
>> 6200.
[14:40] » Okay.
>> Do we need to uh make a vote to make
[14:43] that amendment?
[14:47] » This is just working.
>> Yeah, we're just right now.
[14:49] » So that's $700. Do y'all think that's
enough?
[14:57] » I think it'll put you in a better
position than the 5500 will.
[15:01] » Okay.
>> All right. So, I'm going to add 700 to
[15:05] the back. All right. Um, anything else
on the utilities?
[15:12] All right. The service maintenance, the
security system monitoring,
[15:17] it's been just shy of the $450. The
voting equipment, I did get a quote on
[15:24] that. Cleaning services, they do not
anticipate any raises in their fees. and
[15:32] the annual maintenance for security
system and badge system. I received that
[15:37] from the IT department what that was
itemized at being or estimated at being.
[15:45] So, we're looking at a little bit more,
which is the 40,440
[15:50] than what we anticipated. Well, what we
actually spend in 2024 2025,
[15:58] » but it's closer to the 2022 2023 budget.
And the reason for that is in 2024 we
[16:07] had just received the express votes and
it was part of the package for the
[16:14] service agreement is the reason why it
was not as high in 24 versus 22.
[16:21] » Okay.
>> Um
[16:25] the 30,000 for voting equipment
>> that's the maintenance.
[16:30] » That's the maintenance. They come out
and they do we have
[16:37] 32 DS200s and 22 express boats.
>> So those that's the new equipment that
[16:44] we bought.
>> Yes. It's well the DS200s are not the
[16:47] new ones, but the express boat is the
new ones. But they come out and they
[16:51] service them. They go through each one
of them and make sure that everything is
[16:55] in operating order. And
>> that's just prior to the elections. That
[17:01] is prior. They do it once a year.
Usually it's in March or April. Gotcha.
[17:07] » Further comments on service and
maintenance.
[17:11] » So is increase by right
>> 10,000.
[17:15] » It's more in line with the 2022
because in 2024 that's when we got the
[17:21] express votes. It would have been around
the $37,000
[17:27] figure, but with the purchase of that,
they included the maintenance
[17:34] for the first year.
>> Okay.
[17:39] » Okay. Building repair. We always put in
an unexpected building repairs of
[17:44] $1,000. We never know what might happen.
It might be um a water closet or
[17:52] commode, whatever you want to call it.
Could something could happen. We may
[17:56] have to do that. But I am also asking to
add two walls in the director's office.
[18:04] Um what that wall will do, it will make
that room into two rooms where if you
[18:11] come and you need to have a conversation
with someone, you'll have somewhere you
[18:16] can go. that is closed off.
>> So, it's going to kind of be like what
[18:20] we did last year when we used that.
>> Yes.
[18:23] » Okay.
>> And that's just the rough estimate that
[18:26] I've been given so far.
>> Okay. Something asked about that.
[18:30] » Yes.
>> Further discussion on the building
[18:33] repair.
[18:38] um equipment repairs if there's
something this you'll notice in 2022
[18:43] 2023 we had to get new batteries for the
DS200s
[18:49] that's usually about every 5 to 6 years
so that will be in our next one fiscal
[18:56] year after this one um that there are
three batteries that go into each of the
[19:03] DS200 machines and that was what the
cost was in 2020 22, but I'm not
[19:10] anticipating those needing to be
replaced this year. So, I'm just putting
[19:15] 1,000 in the unexpected equipment
repairs.
[19:20] » Comments or questions?
[19:24] » Postage, um, absentees, the office
mailings, NCOA cards, voter confirmation
[19:30] cards, voter registration cards for one
general election. Um,
[19:36] we put in 20,000 last year and I would
like to do the same thing. Hopefully, we
[19:43] won't be sending out bulk voter
registration cards, but you'll see in
[19:49] 2024
2025. We did go over the 20,000. We're
[19:54] going over this year, but in both cases,
we had changes in precincts.
[20:03] So
>> comments or questions?
[20:06] » That's right.
>> One question.
[20:08] » Um on the
the proposed one, the first one that you
[20:15] gave us is one general election and
general office
[20:21] is office supplies.
>> Okay. Office.
[20:23] » Well, office mail or Yeah, it cut off
that
[20:28] » pro comments or questions. in the 2020
with 25. Didn't we have to change some
[20:33] ballots too in 25 24?
>> Yes, we did.
[20:39] » Cuz that was we ordered the ballots and
then they changed it at the last minute.
[20:44] » Yeah. Yes.
>> For comments or questions
[20:49] or
>> Okay. With the printing, um, we are
[20:53] going to need some additional absent tea
envelopes. Usually during the general
[20:58] election it does increase and there are
three different sizes of envelopes we
[21:04] have to send with absentee.
The provisional envelopes will be
[21:09] changing this year as well. They were
trying to get that done prior to the
[21:14] primary election. They did not get it
done. They're expecting those to come in
[21:19] sometime May or June. So we'll be
ordering those in the new fiscal year to
[21:24] get new provisional envelopes.
Um, the testing and the election
[21:29] ballots, I'm anticipating those costing
about 25,500.
[21:35] That's a little slight more than what
the primary election is costing us based
[21:41] on the number of ballots I'll have to
order.
[21:45] The coding and the layout will be about
$11,000.
[21:49] And then I'm estimating 10,500
for brochures, educational materials. We
[21:56] will need to update our manuals during
the general election and this is also
[22:03] for public records requests, voter
cards, anything else that we may need to
[22:07] order that has to be printed outside of
this office. So I am requesting $49,350.
[22:16] » Comments or questions?
>> Question on provisional balance. Are we
[22:21] seeing a lot of those?
>> Not during the primary. We usually do
[22:25] not see them during the municipal or but
the general election we usually send out
[22:31] thousands.
>> Answer questions.
[22:36] » See?
>> Okay. General election, I mean general
[22:40] insurance is given to us by the county
or provided by the county. The
[22:44] communications is on the next page. The
converge is our office phones here. The
[22:51] cell phone allowance is the cell phone
that everybody calls me on during
[22:55] elections. And then the myi, it should
say general and not primary election. We
[23:02] now have two myisi that we will be using
for the Reedsville and the Eden sites.
[23:11] So I'm anticipating that costing us
about $150. we only have to pay for the
[23:17] time that we use that instead of a
yearly contract.
[23:22] So, I'm estimating $2,100
for communications.
[23:28] » Comments or questions?
the advertising um
[23:35] the advertising prior to the early
voting it'll be about $650 miscellaneous
[23:41] as far as any changes precinct moves and
sometimes we have those sometimes we
[23:47] don't but that's about $1,000 the
required notices we usually try to send
[23:53] that out in the Rockham mail the Eden's
own journal and sometimes we have Roy do
[24:00] that as well as other outlets that we
may use. And that's about $4,000.
[24:07] And we have put this monthly audio and
video programs out to promote get out
[24:13] and vote,
next year we will have more time. So
[24:19] whereas this year with backtoback
elections, we do not have that. Roy
[24:24] usually helps us with that when we are
able to do that. And we do need to
[24:29] update some of our videos cuz a lot of
them have changed.
[24:34] So, but
>> I said thank you.
[24:38] » Yeah, thank you Rory.
So, right now I am estimating $9,850
[24:45] if the board wants to move forward with
that monthly audio and video programs.
[24:51] We also do the podcast as well.
>> Chair has a question. Um, so it is a
[24:57] significant increase. Is that mainly the
monthly audio and video programs by line
[25:02] that's causing that?
>> Yes.
[25:05] » So that's the 4200.
>> Yeah. Because we have not we've done a
[25:08] few but we haven't done what we have
projected and this is something that um
[25:14] member Hampton when he was on the board
really wanted us to do.
[25:18] » Didn't we do some
>> we did some
[25:21] » and so we would have to make new ones.
Yes. A lot of them have a lot of the
[25:28] information has changed.
>> That's true. Yeah. A lot of the mods
[25:31] have changed. Yeah.
>> So, but you'll see in the prior years,
[25:36] we did not use all of that money. We may
have done one or two.
[25:39] » Well, let me ask you this. Did you see
much of an impact from the um audio and
[25:45] the video programs?
>> Yes, we've had a lot of people watch it,
[25:50] but like I said, a lot of them are
outdated right now.
[25:54] So they're not being shown.
>> Well, they're on our website. They're on
[25:58] our website. Our the podcasts are on
there and the videos are on there. It's
[26:02] under um voter information and they can
look on there. How to use the DS200, how
[26:09] to use the Express Vote,
what the voting process is, um the
[26:16] process for absentee ballots, and but
there's several on there. Well, you can
[26:21] probably answer this better than any of
us can. Do you think that the uh
[26:28] amount of coverage that that provided or
the number of people that watched it
[26:35] justifies a $4,200
increase?
[26:40] » I think you're going to catch some flag
from the commissioner. So,
[26:44] » well, it's been on there each year.
>> Has it?
[26:46] » It's been on there. This will be the
third year that it's been on there. Did
[26:50] you
what kind of response did you get from
[26:54] the commissioners on it? No. No. No push
back.
[26:57] » You'd rather have a door.
>> Well, I agree. But I'm just saying, you
[27:01] know, if I were
>> going to think of anything that might
[27:05] you might get push back on, it would
probably be that.
[27:08] » Well, they know that our performance
measurement that we're trying to achieve
[27:14] is based on voter turnout. And if we can
increase the voter turnout, then we're
[27:21] meeting our performance measurements.
>> So point of clarification then um
[27:27] actually that 9850 is not as large of an
increase from what was budgeted. It's
[27:32] just more than what was spent spent.
That is correct.
[27:34] » So that's that's helpful.
>> Further comments or questions?
[27:39] » That was what I was going to ask. So do
you remember what approximately not
[27:43] exact what was budgeted? you know where
we spent the 3500 but around was it
[27:49] around the same number similar
>> around the same number
[27:51] » I think it's great I think it's
certainly the best way to reach the
[27:55] younger voters and I think it's an
important thing to do
[27:59] » it is important
>> further comments or questions
[28:05] » okay um dues um the staff members here
are part of the association we pay these
[28:11] dues every year it's $30 for myself and
15 for the other two. Um, we attend the
[28:18] NCAD conference and that normally we
attend in March. I'm not sure if we'll
[28:24] have it depends on whether we have a
second primary or not, but nothing has
[28:29] been sent out for March as of yet, but
it'll be March or April when we'll
[28:34] attend that conference. And usually
that's when we find out
[28:39] more information
director-wise inside what's going on,
[28:46] what the best practices are at other
counties. We have more one- on-one time
[28:52] with just staff in the office and the
state board is not present during those
[28:59] meetings.
I'll raise your questions
[29:04] this evening.
>> The travel um
[29:08] for some reason
we have this to use the county car, but
[29:13] it always gets put into the general
fund. They may take this account away,
[29:19] but I put in the same thing we usually
put, but you'll see the last two years
[29:23] it says zero. We have used the county
car. You'll notice it's parked outside.
[29:28] mail during the elections. We usually
have it the day before early voting
[29:34] starts until the day after the election.
Um, but it is at our disposal. We fill
[29:40] it up um as needed and I turn those
tickets in. That's where the line this
[29:47] should be
put, but normally they put it in general
[29:52] supplies instead of the travel. So they
may or may not remove that line item.
[29:59] » I've answered questions.
>> Okay. The next is the board training. We
[30:05] have one conference that will be coming
up in August. It will be in Greensboro.
[30:09] So y'all will not be staying at the
hotel there, but the what's included
[30:16] there is registration and the meals. Um,
you will be provided lunch for sure.
[30:23] Sometimes they do breakfast, sometimes
they do not, but if we stay late, then
[30:29] that would also pay for your dinner. The
mileage is 250 miles times five board
[30:35] members if all five attend. And the
mileage rate as of right now is 72 cents
[30:45] per mile. So, I'm
estimating $3,46
[30:52] for that conference, if all five. Point
of clarification, I know this year, and
[30:58] this is probably more for the public's
uh knowledge, but uh that was mandatory
[31:03] training for us to attend and I would
assume that it is the same. Well, what
[31:08] they do, they do require that the board
members attend two board meetings within
[31:14] that first two-year time period. So, I
know you attended the one we had
[31:23] for
>> July Wilmington.
[31:25] » Wilmington and then we had the online
but the members that have been on the
[31:31] board for a while, they're not required,
but the new members are. So, Wally, you
[31:36] would be required. Yes.
>> To attend because that would be your
[31:39] first conference. So,
>> okay.
[31:46] » Uh question for uh the one that uh the
online one that we had in February. Did
[31:52] you ever get the training materials from
that?
[31:55] » I have not as of yet.
>> Okay.
[31:57] » So, I will check again to see if they
had posted it, but Okay.
[32:00] » They were waiting on a couple of
presentations before, but I will send
[32:05] that out.
comments or questions?
[32:07] » Yeah, two questions. One,
>> uh, 250 miles from here to Greensboro
[32:14] » back and forth.
>> Oh, for the multiple days. Thank you.
[32:17] It's multiple days.
>> That answers that. And then, uh, am I
[32:20] not required to also do another training
sooner than that? I thought in the
[32:24] paperwork I read there was something
that I needed to do like in first 90
[32:29] days or something like that.
>> That would be this conference, but it
[32:32] you just
>> even though it's further out than 90
[32:34] days. Got you.
>> And it might have to do with online
[32:37] something. I
>> did you have to do that?
[32:40] » Okay. I'll look I'll look
>> I'll send in a help ticket to see. Let
[32:45] me put that on here.
>> Further comments or questions.
[32:54] » All right.
>> All right. The next is the staff
[32:57] training. Did the same thing with the
one conference in Greensboro. And then
[33:03] with us not knowing where the NCA
conference is, I included the hotel
[33:10] registration and the meals and we're at
$3,750.
[33:17] » Comments or questions?
[33:22] » Okay. General supplies. Um I've is the
supplies for the daily operations the
[33:29] office any projects we have events and
that is events that we have out in the
[33:35] public like um FabFest
um Riverfest
[33:41] the Ruffen fall and spring festivals. We
go to Madison Mayadan Stoneville. We try
[33:51] to attend all of those festivals and we
do try to update our brochures. They
[33:57] have those available as well as
registration forms. Anything that the
[34:01] public may want, we try to have that
there and that's part of that general
[34:06] supplies. The Concord technology is our
fax that comes in via our email. And
[34:13] then the Toshiba
copia charges or is our maintenance on
[34:20] the Toshiba machines that covers the
cost of the printing, the ink, and any
[34:30] maintenance that's on there. So I am
estimating $14,650.
[34:37] In 2022 2023
we did our manuals. So but we did the
[34:45] manuals here. That's what caused it to
go up higher cuz we were using the tasha
[34:52] cuz we did not have it in print.
>> You anticipated the chair's question.
[34:59] Are there other comments?
I remember that in 25 we were having to
[35:06] deal with increased costs for all of our
suppliers.
[35:10] » Uh are we seeing that this year or is
has all of that leveled off?
[35:16] » It's leveled off a little bit. So they
usually let us know when there's going
[35:21] to be an anticipated increase and we and
usually we've received it by now. We
[35:26] have not.
>> Gotcha.
[35:29] comments, questions.
>> I don't think you need to increase it
[35:32] any can always
>> have it there if you need to move
[35:38] something else. I mean, if something
comes up and you might take some of it,
[35:42] but I
>> I think we're good.
[35:45] » Okay. I think we're good.
>> Comments or questions? This seems to
[35:50] » Okay. And then the last thing is the
precinct supplies. And you'll see that
[35:56] we're usually around $3,000. So I am
estimating $5,000 for that. Um and
[36:04] you know, usually we do $8,000, but
5,000 should be good.
[36:10] » Comments or questions? Members,
comments or questions regarding the
[36:16] entire
line? The new total with adding the um
[36:22] utilities is 622,770.
[36:28] » Sounds fun,
[36:32] » which is a 60. You're talking about the
total.
[36:35] » The total it went from $622,70.
[36:40] » Yeah. which is a $63,000
increase from what we actually spent in
[36:47] 204.
[36:52] » Other comments or questions for Miss
Ser,
[36:59] » I just need to know if there's anything
that the board thinks they need to
[37:03] adjust. If not, is this a budget that
the board would like to approve or would
[37:11] you like to take more time to review it
and schedule another meeting? It's
[37:16] entirely up to you.
>> Okay. Now, our chair said we would be
[37:20] sending some something to get with you
on that.
[37:24] » All right.
>> Cuz it may be something that he wanted
[37:28] to add. Okay,
>> it's the same amount, but if you'll look
[37:31] at the board members monthly salary and
election pay, um I did
[37:36] » that's on what page is the first page,
>> the 14,400.
[37:42] I did submit a um board approval to the
board of commissioners
[37:49] right before y'all arrived at 5. Um
what the chairman is proposing is that
[37:59] the monthly salary and the election pay
be added together divided by 12 and then
[38:07] a $50 allowance for cell phone and $75
allowance for travel cost
[38:17] » um to come. You'll still get the same
amount of pay, but it will be allocated
[38:25] differently on the check.
>> Okay. So, the total is not changing.
[38:32] » Correct.
>> Why Why do we need that breakdown?
[38:37] » It
>> I would address that. I've spoken with
[38:40] the chair and just felt that it would
make more sense to to balance it out
[38:45] have the same every month as long as the
total was the same. Thought it would be
[38:50] easier for accounting purposes and just
thought it would be more
[38:55] » but the total is the same.
>> The total is the same
[38:58] » as what we have been getting. So, and it
I don't think we I mean I'm not opposed
[39:04] to doing it but I just don't see the
need to do it.
[39:09] I think it sounds like he's adding some
some specifics in there as what the
[39:13] money is for is what is that because you
were saying something about travel and
[39:17] phones.
>> Yeah.
[39:19] » And I understand that is consistent with
what the board of commissioners does.
[39:24] » I think that's where he gets that.
>> Um
[39:29] » that's right.
[39:33] I I mean I'm I'm
How much travel? The most travel that I
[39:38] do is during
[39:43] » and I'm just
>> Well, you wouldn't have to. It would
[39:48] still just be
>> you would get the same amount of pay. It
[39:52] would just be broken out differently in
payroll.
[39:56] » As far as accounting purposes, is
accounting wanting that done? I mean,
[40:00] are they not happy? Are they not I I
don't really see the need.
[40:07] » It comes down to the approval of the
board of commissioners. That's what it I
[40:13] just got the email probably around 3
3:30 that this is something according to
[40:20] general statutes that
anything like this would have to
[40:25] actually be approved by the board of
commissioners.
[40:28] When you say anything like this, do you
mean breaking it down like that?
[40:32] » Yes. And um and that was from the
finance director as well as the county
[40:39] attorney.
>> So, this is something that the board of
[40:41] commissioners would have to address, not
not us.
[40:45] » Correct. They're the ones that would
have to approve this change and it will
[40:50] be on their agenda.
It's tentatively on their agenda for
[40:55] Monday night. But Susan will let me know
if it will be at a later meeting. But
[41:02] the amount in our budget will not
change.
[41:07] It still will be the 144. It will just
be reallocated.
[41:13] » So when we get the final budget, if that
gets approved by the commissioners, will
[41:18] it be broken down in our budget uh our
copy of the budget in that manner?
[41:24] » It could be.
>> Thank you. I can do that.
[41:28] » It would still be what shows up on the
public copy is per salary forecast.
[41:35] There would not be a breakdown there at
all. It would just be like at the
[41:40] » it would say board members per salary
forecast 14.
[41:46] » That's all it was.
>> So chair to comment. I would just say I
[41:51] believe it is not a matter of necessity
is a matter of preference.
[41:56] Um my personal opinion is that it's not
changing the total. It's
[42:02] » something that the chair would like to
do.
[42:05] » I don't have any reason to oppose it. Um
and so I would support the chair's
[42:11] decision if the board would would go
along with that.
[42:15] » Well, we're not approving that, are we?
because she just said the commissioners
[42:19] » commissioners do have to approve it, but
we we recommend too.
[42:22] » Yeah,
>> this is a recommendation.
[42:24] » I I don't have any opposition to it. I
just think I don't think it's necessary.
[42:29] » It's not necessary. That's correct.
>> It's necessary.
[42:32] » It is not necessary. It is a matter of
preference.
[42:40] » Further comments, further discussion,
>> it doesn't really matter. We've already
[42:43] presented it and sent it someplace. It
doesn't really matter whether we whe
[42:48] whether we
[42:51] want it sent that way or not, right?
Because it's already
[42:56] » It seems sir, are we not making a
recommendation? Um,
[42:59] » well, I was asked to send it to the
clerk to the board so she could get it
[43:05] on the agenda for Monday night,
>> but it would be nice to have a
[43:10] recommendation from this board. Yes,
>> that's my only challenge.
[43:17] » That's my only challenge. I don't The
the numbers aren't changing. I don't
[43:20] care about that. The breaking it down. I
think uh breaking it down for the public
[43:26] to be able to see how the money is being
spent. Although that doesn't sound like
[43:30] the public one's going to have that, but
I have a massive issue of sending
[43:34] something off without this board it
coming through this board. And that is
[43:38] where I'm inclined to vote against it
because of that. That's a huge issue for
[43:43] me.
>> Further comments, discussion.
[43:52] Are we are we wanting to do it because
the commissioners do it or is there
[43:59] there's not it's not a necessity to have
it and we've never had it before and
[44:05] it's not something we're going to share
with the public. Am I correct in saying
[44:09] that?
>> Well, it could be. What it does do is it
[44:12] saves on FICA what the county has to pay
to FICA.
[44:17] » Really?
Because you do not have to pay FICA on
[44:22] sales I mean cell phone usage or travel.
>> Saves who?
[44:28] » The county sending in.
>> You you probably also don't have to pay
[44:32] income tax on on it if that way as well.
>> That is true.
[44:37] » Um
I I I don't have an issue with the
[44:40] thing, but I have a massive issue with
the way it's been handled.
[44:46] » The way it's
>> been handled. Oh,
[44:49] » by not coming through this board first,
which it absolutely should have, and I
[44:54] can't vote in favor of it because of
that.
[44:59] » So, point of clarification,
it seems, are you saying I think what I
[45:05] understand Mr. White be saying is that
it's already been presented to them or
[45:09] we making a recommendation if it's been
suggested?
[45:13] » I was called by the chair and asked to
submit it to the clerk. So, so she could
[45:18] get
>> they don't need our recommendation
[45:22] » if they already have the information.
>> I don't know if they have it as of yet.
[45:28] Like I said, I sent it to her. It was
probably 10 minutes till 5.
[45:32] » When are they meeting again?
>> Monday.
[45:34] » Monday.
>> So, to be clear, the board of
[45:36] commissioners can act with or without
our recommendation. They're passing the
[45:39] budget. We're simply making a
recommendation. So we can remain silent
[45:44] on this issue and just if the board
wants to make a recommendation on the
[45:48] entire uh budget as far as the amount
we can if we don't the commissioners
[45:57] could
do what they wish anyway but um we are
[46:03] the same sir I believe is asking if we
would like to approve and send a
[46:08] recommendation for the budget the entire
amount out
[46:13] » to the board of commissioners
>> because it's not going to change. It's
[46:16] not going to change the amount.
>> He won't change the amount.
[46:19] » Nothing's going to change.
>> The amount the 14,400
[46:26] will not change.
It will remain the same either way.
[46:32] » So there there are two issues here.
There is a matter of making a
[46:38] recommendation on the entire budget that
you gave us uh the 62 $22,770
[46:47] that we could make a recommendation for
that budget.
[46:51] » Yes.
>> And the second issue is that we could
[46:54] make a recommendation on this allocation
or we could remain silent on that issue.
[46:59] Would that be fair to say?
>> Yes.
[47:02] » Is there a third option? I'm not
comfortable remaining silent either.
[47:08] » Third option would be to make some other
recommendation if that's what the board
[47:12] wanted to do or the another option would
be not to make a recommendation on the
[47:19] budget itself.
>> We'll have a discussion on it and and
[47:22] see where it I'm still not seeing where
it's making a difference. If it's not
[47:28] changing
anything,
[47:30] » I have no opposition to the budget. I
trust Paula. We've asked our questions,
[47:34] we've gotten our explanation. I'm
prepared to go forward with the budget.
[47:41] But, um, you know, if something's going
forward to anyone, county commissioners
[47:47] or anywhere else in the name of this
board, it should be come through this
[47:51] board and not around this board.
>> I agree with that.
[47:53] » And I need that on public record.
>> Now, I'm not silent and I'm good to move
[47:59] on. Other comments or questions?
[48:06] All right, members. Um,
it seems sir has made a recommendation
[48:13] or
of $622,770
[48:19] as amended during the discussion this
evening.
[48:24] If there's a motion, the motion would be
for approval of this fiscal year 2627
[48:31] budget as amended this evening.
>> So moved.
[48:37] » Second.
>> Mo motion by Mr. White, second by Miss
[48:42] Toten.
Is there further discussion or debate?
[48:47] If not, the question is the passage of
budget recommendation for fiscal year
[48:54] 2627 as amended this evening. All those
in favor would signify by saying I. I.
[49:00] » All oppose would say no. The eyes have
it. And the recommendation is made.
[49:07] And uh that seems to conclude our
agenda. Minister, do you have anything?
[49:12] Um we will be I'll be meeting with
county management sometime. Normally we
[49:18] have two members to usually attend that
meeting with me so you can hear what the
[49:25] county management says. Would y'all like
to do the same thing this fiscal year?
[49:32] » So just decide who wants to do that.
I'll let you know. Um if they have any
[49:37] changes I will let the board be aware of
that. So you'll know if there's any
[49:42] changes to the budget from county
management.
[49:46] » What is that date?
>> I don't know yet.
[49:49] » As soon as I get some dates, I will try
to send that out.
[49:56] » Can I just touch on something? I don't
know how the commissioners did it and
[50:00] we're not the commissioners, but when
changes are being made or suggestions
[50:05] are being made,
I have to agree with Wally that the
[50:09] board needs to participate in that that
should be presented to us so that we can
[50:13] have discussion on it and that's the way
we've always done it. The board
[50:18] participated in those decisions and you
know making those decisions. Um we're
[50:25] all a part of the board. So it is
imperative that we be involved in the
[50:30] processes and the decisions.
[50:35] In other words, he's saying
>> that's right.
[50:37] » In other words, he's saying
um had we had a discussion about this
[50:43] before you sent, I think the comfort
level would have been a lot um better.
[50:52] And I don't know how it's going to come
back. You know, even if they decide,
[50:57] well, that sounds like a good idea.
still we will have to make a decision as
[51:05] to whether we
>> I mean I just I just think that you know
[51:11] like I said I've served on the board for
four years and when decisions had to be
[51:18] made or suggestions or whatever they
were always brought before the entire
[51:22] board so that discussion could be had
and a decision could be made that
[51:31] everybody was in agreement with or you
know
[51:36] it it just works better that way I
think.
[51:42] » Okay members before we uh adjourn are
there any final comments right
[51:47] » miss Titan
>> no
[51:49] » Mr. White.
>> No, thank you.
[51:50] » Would there entertain a motion that we
adjourn?
[51:52] » Some move.
>> Second. It been properly moved and
[51:56] seconded that we adjourned. All in favor
say I. I. No. Eyes have it and we'll
[52:01] adjourn. Thank you members.