Indian River County elections office seeks budget for fourth early voting site

The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners held a budget workshop on July 9, 2025, to discuss various financial matters and budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting began with a review of shared software applications between county agencies, which led to a cost allocation based on usage, ultimately reducing expenses. Additionally, a non-productive software contract was terminated, further contributing to budget savings.

A significant concern raised during the meeting was the ongoing burden of IT costs mandated by the state, which have historically been unfunded. The county has relied on surpluses from state-mandated IT trust funds, but these are depleting. Officials predict that by 2028, the county will need to directly fund some IT needs. However, there was a positive note as this year saw an increase in surplus funds, providing some hope for the future.

Leslie Swan, the Supervisor of Elections, presented her proposed budget for 2025-2026, emphasizing the need for an additional early voting site due to the county's growth. The proposed budget includes funds for new voting equipment and the hiring of a Geographic Information System specialist to manage electoral maps and precinct boundaries effectively. Swan also highlighted new legislation that will increase costs associated with initiative petition verification, necessitating a future request to roll back collected fees into her budget.

The workshop also addressed the Sheriff’s Office budget request, which has seen a substantial increase. The Sheriff requested $94.3 million, an 18.3% increase from the previous year. However, the county administrator expressed concerns about the sustainability of such an increase, given the county's limited revenue growth. The administrator recommended a more modest budget of approximately $83.6 million for the Sheriff, emphasizing the need for fiscal caution to avoid jeopardizing the county's financial position.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the implications of the Sheriff’s budget on overall county finances, highlighting that the Sheriff’s request consumes over half of the proposed budget. The board acknowledged the challenges ahead and the need for careful planning in light of potential changes in local government funding structures. The next steps will involve further discussions and adjustments to the proposed budgets as the county prepares for the upcoming fiscal year.