Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver told the Senate Finance Committee she is asking for the panel’s help to shore up the office’s base budget after federal election support is waning and the state removed direct election costs from the FY26 operating base.

Toulouse Oliver told the committee the office’s FY26 general fund base request is $12,900,000 and that the first fiscal year without direct election costs in the base creates a “woefully short” operating position. She said one position now funded by Help America Vote Act (HAVA) federal grants needs to be preserved in the base because the office does not expect continued federal election program funds.

Why it matters: the office holds sensitive voter records and relies on federal cybersecurity services that appear to be ending, the secretary said. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provided routine penetration testing and “Albert” sensors that detect unusual activity; Toulouse Oliver said those services were effectively frozen and she expects the office to take on the cost or find replacements.

Toulouse Oliver said the office had “absorbed additional costs of ownership” for new IT systems and that, even with improvements in HB 2, the office still faces about a $500,000 shortfall in personnel and “45–43%” deficiencies in contractual and other program categories. Justin O’Shea, the office’s chief financial officer, told the committee staff are still quantifying how much it will cost to replace CISA services and estimated the additional expense could be “several hundred thousands of dollars” rather than the roughly $10,000 the office has paid annually for some security services.

On reimbursements to counties, Toulouse Oliver said the office recently received funds through the Office of Payment Reconciliation to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and plans to submit a budget adjustment request (BAR) to move those dollars into the secretary’s budget so counties that fronted election costs can be reimbursed promptly. She said five counties had not yet been reimbursed and that the office received the funds on the Tuesday before the hearing and was “working on that process to get those counties paid immediately.”

The secretary also raised concerns about an announced office move. She said her staff were not consulted about relocation plans, that the committee had allocated $100,000 for moving expenses without consulting her office, and that the office must remain proximate to the governor and legislative offices because the department receives physical documents that are signed, stamped and scanned in person.

Committee members asked for more detail. Senator Hava asked for clarification on HAVA funding (Help America Vote Act) and how much the office needs to maintain cybersecurity services if federal supports disappear. The secretary and her CFO said they will follow up with quantified estimates “as soon as possible” so the committee can consider the costs in the budget process.

The secretary closed by asking for the committee’s help to avoid recurring one-time requests and to preserve positions and security services essential to protecting voter information.

Toulouse Oliver and staff indicated they will return with more precise cost estimates and the office will submit a BAR to move reimbursements for counties into the secretary’s operating budget.