Subject:
Title
Fiscal Year 2021 Board Budget Amendment No. 2 to realign appropriation from the General Government cost center to the Supervisor of Elections cost center within the General Fund.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
At the request of the Supervisor of Elections (Supervisor), approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 Board Budget Amendment No. 2 realigning appropriation from the General Government - Reserves for Contingencies to the Supervisor of Elections cost center within the General Fund.
• This amendment realigns a total of $372,000.00 from the General Fund Reserves for contingencies.
• Appropriation is needed to procure an automatic tabulating system as authorized under Florida Statutes 101.591(2)(b) and 102.141(7)(a) to conduct post-election audits and recounts.
• As of January 1, 2021, Florida Statute 102.141(7)(a) states that if ballots are processed using automatic tabulating equipment, which is not part of the voting system, the Canvassing Board is not required to reprocess those ballots for a recount.
• System will allow the Supervisor to conduct automated audits and will not require reprocessing ballots for recounts, thereby reducing personnel and operating costs for this activity.
• System will be implemented for the 2021 fall elections.
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Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible Stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
Summary
This amendment realigns appropriation from the General Government - Reserves for Contingencies to provide sufficient budget for the Supervisor of Elections to procure equipment authorized under Florida Statutes 101.591(2)(b) and 102.141(7)(a) to conduct post-election audits and recounts.
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Background Information:
As of January 1, 2021, Florida law [F.S. 102.141(7)(a)] states if ballots are processed using automatic tabulating equipment, which is not a part of the voting system, the Canvassing Board is not required to reprocess those ballots for a recount. ClearAudit, which is an independent auditing system and automatic tabulating equipment, will allow the Supervisor of Elections to conduct automated audits and will not require reprocessing ballots for recounts, which reduces personnel and operational costs. Costs associated with the ClearAudit system are 50% software, and 50% hardware (scanners, servers, laptops). Once implemented, it is estimated that this system will save the Supervisor of Elections $70,000 per election in post-election manual audits.
Fiscal Impact:
This amendment realigns FY21 appropriation in the amount of $372,000.00 from the General Fund Reserves for Contingencies to increase the Supervisor of Elections budget as outlined above. These expenses were not anticipated and not included in the FY21 Adopted Budget. Additional funding in the amount of $69,510.00 will be included in the FY22 Budget request to cover annual maintenance costs.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jason D. Rivera, Technology Program Coordinator / Budget & Financial Management Analyst, Office of Management and Budget
Partners:
Supervisor of Elections
Attachments:
BA-21-2
Request from Supervisor of Elections