The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office held a budget hearing on May 16, 2025, focusing on strategic goals for the upcoming year. The meeting outlined key initiatives aimed at enhancing service delivery, election integrity, and operational efficiency.

The discussion began with an emphasis on delivering services in a timely, cost-effective, and professional manner. The Clerk highlighted several strategic goals for 2025, including election integrity and security, improved voter access and engagement, digital transformation, motor vehicle department efficiency, staff development, customer experience improvements, and sustainability.

A significant focus was placed on election integrity and security, building on measures developed since 2023. The Clerk mentioned ongoing collaborations with emergency management and plans for expanded staff training and security protocols.

Improving voter access and engagement was another priority. The Clerk proposed expanding voter education efforts and optimizing ballot drop boxes and vote centers based on experiences from the 2024 general election.

Digital transformation efforts will continue, particularly in ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for digital platforms. This includes refining processes for ballot accessibility and updating software to meet legal requirements.

The Clerk also addressed the need for efficiency in the motor vehicle department. Plans to explore options for streamlining operations and reducing wait times were discussed, including the potential implementation of a 4-10 work schedule to alleviate staff burnout while maintaining service levels.

Staff development and retention were highlighted as critical components of the office's strategy. The Clerk emphasized the importance of ongoing education and training for staff, along with strategies to incentivize high performance through bonuses and flexible schedules.

Customer experience improvements were also on the agenda, with plans to enhance lobby environments by adding communication tools and addressing feedback mechanisms to better align customer expectations with their experiences.

Lastly, the Clerk discussed sustainability and operational efficiency, proposing measures to improve energy efficiency in office spaces and exploring remote work solutions for various departments.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discuss the elections department's needs and initiatives, ensuring that the Clerk and Recorder's Office remains responsive to the community's needs while enhancing overall service delivery.