To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Domonique Clemons, Genesee County Clerk and Register of Deeds
title
RE: Approval of a request by Genesee County's Clerk/Register to update the Election Programming Fees Schedule
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of the fee schedule for Jurisdiction Election programming and support.
BACKGROUND:
The office of the Genesee County Clerk and Register of Deeds statutorily provides support to local city and township clerks throughout the election process. This includes creating, proofing, printing and delivering ballots to jurisdictions, providing certain election supplies, training poll workers and programming election software and equipment for every election. Our office works closely with our local clerks to go above and beyond the statutory requirements of technical assistance, to have strong relationships and provide support through all aspects of the election. It is the understanding of this office that the fee for programming elections and printing ballots has been charged back to the jurisdictions at a cost of $300 per election.
DISCUSSION:
$300 per election does not come close to covering the staff time for handling these critical election tasks but is also an unequitable fee. The City of Clio for example has 1 precinct and under 5000 voters. That means they have 1 ballot style that our office must program for $300, However larger jurisdictions such as the City of Flint have over 20 different ballot styles to be programmed for a single election at the same cost. We are proposing a dynamic pricing schedule that would charge each jurisdiction by the number of ballot styles they need programmed. Every election, Jurisdictions may have various number of ballot styles depending on precinct splits and the number of questions on the ballot. This proposal would allow them to pay a smaller fee for small elections, and a larger fee for large elections that pose a larger burden and more staff hours for staff. Further it is our understanding that all fees not set by the State of Michigan are to be approved by the Board of Commissioners. The new Fee schedule would be per election: Tier 1: 5 Ballot Styles or fewer - $300, Tier 2: 6-10 Ballot Styles - $500 and Tier 3: More than 11 Ballot Styles: $750
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There is no impact on Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This proposal would bring an increase in revenue to the General fund. The amount will vary greatly each year based on the election, and number of contests on the election, special circumstances such as recalls and special elections, etc.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This request meets our goal of long-term financial stability by increasing county revenue to continue to provide the best services we can to our community.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Clerk/Register to authorize approving the following Election Programming Fee Schedule to be charged to the cities and townships of Genesee County, Michigan, for all elections commencing after October 1, 2025, is approved:
ELECTION PROGRAMMING FEE SCHEDULE:
• TIER 1: 5 Ballot styles or fewer - $300
• TIER 2: 6-10 Ballot Styles - $500
• TIER 3: 11 or more Ballot styles - $750
(a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the April 16, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board).