Proposed 2026-27 Budget

Overall Budget Summary

The Proposed Budget includes a status quo staffing of 14.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, including negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $6,277,841, funded by revenues of $1,294,250 and a General Fund Contribution of $4,893,591.

Total expenses increase by $600,581 from the prior year Adopted Budget. Salaries and benefits increase by $608,013, reflecting negotiated salary and benefit increases for permanent staff, including approximately $348,000 in extra-help staffing and overtime pay required during the General Election cycle. Services and supplies increase by $164,463 primarily due to higher election-related costs, including postage, printing, and ballot materials.

In addition, departmental contributions to the County’s self-insured Liability and Property Fund increase by $68,692 as part of the County’s ongoing cost allocation adjustments. These increases are partially offset by a $51,000 decrease in professional service agreements that do not continue into Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27. Internal Service Fees (ISF) and other charges decreased by $94,662 from the prior year as the County enters the second year of using the ISF model and estimates based 2025-26 actual services provided.

Total revenues increase by $508,080 compared to the prior year Adopted Budget. Election-related revenues increase by $520,000 due to district election charges and candidate filing fees associated with the November 2026 General Election. State grant revenues decrease by $23,970 due to the expiration of the Help America Vote Act election security grant. No replacement State grant funding has been identified for FY 2026-27.

The net result of the proposed department budget is an overall net increase of $1,108,739, funded by an increase of $600,659 in General Fund Contribution, and $508,080 in revenue from fees for services.

November 2026 General Election: The November 2026 General Election and new federal requirements for Japanese and Thai language services create a significant increase in workload and operational expenses for FY 2026-27. The department will utilize extra help staff to address the additional workload in service of sustaining a record of administering free and fair elections in Santa Cruz County during the election cycle. These factors, alongside growing demand for voter outreach and language assistance among historically underrepresented communities, increase requirements for staffing, translation services, and community presentations. While election charges and filing fees provide a partial offset, the resulting rise in expenses requires temporary staffing and flexible budget planning to maintain compliance, accessibility, and public trust.

Potential Federal Election Law Changes: The department monitors proposed federal legislation and executive actions, such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which may change voter registration and ballot processing requirements. These potential changes, currently subject to legislative review and litigation, would require operational adjustments to registration procedures, staff training, and coordination with State election officials. While impacts for FY 2026–27 remain unknown, any future implementation would require additional staffing, technology updates, and expanded voter education.