Williams says there's no way to know right now if there will be a special election next August or a 2-page ballot in November 2010.  However, he says it's important to forecast as many expenses as possible so council can prepare accordingly.

 

The budget could easily be less than it was in 2006, which Williams says is the best possible comparison because the 2010 election cycle is similar to that of 2006.  The board spent about 5.4-million dollars that year, but even if $5.8 million is spent in 2010, some of it will be reimbursed.

 

"It's considerably lower when we compare it to 2006 with regard to part time wages and overtime wages," said Williams.

  

 

The board also reduced its payroll with a handful of layoffs earlier this year.

 

One of the budget items that the board does not consider mandatory at this time is $125,000 for a satellite office to handle absentee voting.  The Job Center on Tallmadge Avenue filled that role during last year's Presidential Election and board officials think that even though the 2010 gubernatorial will attract fewer voters than the 2008 election, there may still be too many for the board to accommodate at its Grant Street facility.