The Shelby County FY2026 Budget Subcommittee #4 meeting held on March 19, 2025, focused on preparations for the upcoming election and addressed critical staffing and compensation issues within the county's election office.

The meeting began with a discussion on the May 2026 election, which is anticipated to be significant due to numerous open seats resulting from term limits on incumbents. The election office plans to conduct candidate classes and campaign finance workshops starting in October, assuming both local parties will call for a primary election, as they have historically done.

A key concern raised was salary compression within the election office. The current pay structure has led to new hires earning more than long-term employees, creating dissatisfaction and potential retention issues. The election office requested $27,000 to provide raises for nine employees, addressing the disparity in wages.

Additionally, the election office proposed the creation of a new position, a Voter Services Manager, to better manage the increased workload during election seasons. This role would help oversee a temporary staff that can swell to 19 during peak times, aiming to reduce errors and improve voter service response times. The estimated cost for this position is $65,000 plus benefits.

Another significant request was to increase poll worker pay from $15 to $20 per hour, as poll workers are essential to the election process and have not seen a pay increase since 2021. The financial impact of this increase would vary depending on the number of poll workers hired for each election, with estimates ranging from $40,000 for the upcoming election to around $100,000 for a presidential election.

The meeting also touched on the implementation of an enhanced election night reporting system, which was beta tested in previous elections and received positive feedback. This system, funded through the existing operating budget, aims to improve the accuracy and clarity of election results reporting.

In conclusion, the meeting highlighted the election office's pressing needs for staffing and compensation adjustments to ensure a smooth electoral process in the upcoming year. The discussions underscored the importance of adequately supporting election staff and poll workers to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the electoral system in Shelby County.