To: Board of Supervisors
From: Kristin Connelly, Clerk-Recorder
Report Title: Contract for Election Billing Methodology Consultation
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Clerk-Recorder, or designee, to execute a contract with NBS Government Finance Group in an amount not to exceed $14,000 for consultation and review of billing methodology for conducting elections on behalf of participating jurisdictions, for the period November 5, 2024 through February 28, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Clerk-Recorder Department’s Elections Division is charged with conducting elections on behalf of jurisdictions within the County. The Department seeks consultation about the cost-recoverability of functions and capital equipment related to the conduction of elections, as well as methodology of distributing those costs to jurisdictions participating in a consolidated election.
The Department charges participating jurisdictions for the goods and services necessary to conduct the election, currently evenly dividing costs amongst all participating jurisdictions. The Department would like to consider weighing charges to districts based upon the size and complexity of contest items to appear on the ballot. NBS Government Finance Group will assist the Department in reviewing charges related to the 2024 November General Election, comparisons of election billing methodologies from other California counties’ Registrar offices, and advisement on potential changes to billing methodologies for future elections.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Department would lack the capacity to thoroughly evaluate its election billing methodology, resulting in continuance of current practices which may omit reimbursement of costs related to election equipment and functions and potentially unrealized revenue. Costs borne by jurisdictions participating in consolidated elections would be evenly divided without consideration of ballot item size and complexity.