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staff time, tI�e 2008 and 201Q elections averaged $20,000 or $10,000 annually. When co�nnpared �o t�e Cour�ty propasal, the extra cast to the City is $S,S00 ar�xivaily. Sue and I - conservatively estir�:ate that $5,500 anx�ually is about ti�e cost for staff time ta manage the local electiQrrs_ Sue and I have r�at done al� the �nat�, but if the Deputy Cter�c sgends 20Q ho�rs on electia�:s over twa years and all the other suppart staff {P�blic Works a�d ClericaI) aiso spend 200 hours corr�bined e�ery two years on etections, then the cost to the City for tt�e County daing the etec#ion is a"push" �nancially. It is nfl# �arc� to irnage this arrto��t of staff time being spent on such acti�ities as conducting the actual prirnary and general election, training, attending County rr�eetings, accuracy tests, nursing horr�e voting, setting up and taking dowt� the faur voiing sites, e#c. Even with the Co�znty conducting the City elections, City staff (and the City Council) will still be involved in sorrte election act�vities but i� wilI be relatzveiy r�tinor cornpared to ihe amount of time currently invested in the elect�ort process. Or�e side beneft ta having ihe County da aur City elections is that the City will gain signi�cant stQrage space by having the election equipment located at the County facility. A.riother possible ber�eft to the City wit� this pro�osal is that the Deputy Clerk can naw take all City Cauncil ;neeting miautes. This would save th� City about $9,OOQ per year on our Timesavers' bills. Sue will need to watc� to see how this new assignment works out, �ut we t�ink thaE Becky can do the �nirt�tes and her required Clerk duties if elections are largely beir�g rernaved fro�n her waric schedule. Finally, ha�ing a"turn key" eiections relationship wit� the County wiil reduce the stress factor at City Hatl araund election time and we wili alsa not have to deal with all the issues related to election judges (i.e. recruitment and training)_ Recammen�ation Overall, scaff thinks that the contz-act frorr► Ramsey Count_y re�resents a signi�ieant benefit ta the City and we support the proposaI_ flne reason #ha� Su� arid I have nat "dane all tl�e math" is that the tnain reason for the recorr�rt�endation to contract with the Caunty for eiection services is due to potential new Iaws t�tat wili rr�ake electians m�tch more dif�cult to adtninister {i.e_ voter photo ID reguirement) and due to the recent state wide recounts where the actions of etection judges (anc� therefore the actions of Cities} were placed �nder the rraicroscope because �very vote in every precinct was important. Sta�f sir�n:ply belie�es that the City is best served by lea�ing the election to the professionals; which in this case is Rarnsey County. Ever� if this proposal was �ot cost neutrai, staff would stil� be r�commending accepting the Cour�ty c�ntract proposal. City Council Meeting P=1AdminlCouncillAgendas & Packet inforrnationl2Q I 11i0-]0-i � Work SessianlPackei tnforrnation110-10-I ! 2012 Sudget Update.doc � Page 2 of 2