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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/18/07

HB

SHORT TITLE

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY BUREAU OF

ELECTIONS STAFF

SB 1027

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$70.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 1027 appropriates $70.0 to the Local Government Division of the Department of

Finance to create a full time bureau of elections position in San Miguel County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $70.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the General

Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DFA notes that the San Miguel County Clerks office consists of an elected official, chief deputy

clerk, and two full time employees. The San Miguel County Clerks office is responsible for

overseeing all elections within the County, including land grants and school elections. San

Miguel County has three school districts, two colleges, and numerous land grants located within

the County. The county also oversees the municipal elections. In addition, the County Clerk’s

office is responsible for recording all legal documents, issuing marriage licenses, and officially

Senate Bill 1027 – Page

2

recording all county meetings.

Recent changes such as paper ballots, Help Americans Vote Act, and allowing additional time

for early and absentee voting have resulted in additional duties for the Clerk’s office.

Generally, the Bureau of Elections is overseen by the Clerk, and is responsible for the entire

election process, including voter registration, candidate services, early voting, etc.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The San Miguel County Commission will be responsible for budgeting the appropriation through

formal resolution approved by the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance,

and for allowable expenditures, i.e. hiring qualified staff.

WEP/nt