Putnam Elections Board eliminating overtime

OTTAWA - Eliminating overtime for unclassified employees, using more in-house services on computers, and using volunteer labor are the methods the Putnam County Board of Elections plans to use to reduce costs.

During a Thursday budget hearing with the commissioners, Elections Board member Martin Kuhlman presented a $354,172 proposed 2009 budget. The budget included a reduction in compensation for employees.

The board also eliminated overtime pay for unclassified employees including the director and assistant director at the elections office. During the first two months of 2008, more than $6,000 was paid in overtime for the unclassified employees.

Karen Lammers, who became the director in October, said in the past the director and assistant director were paid hourly. She said the board has changed these positions to salaried.

Kuhlman also pointed out they also had the assistance of more than 1,000 volunteer hours in the past year, saving the Board of Elections more than $9,000.

The biggest reduction on the proposed budget was in the area of fees paid computer vendors. Kuhlman said the board had paid $92,000 in 2007 for their services. This was reduced to $34,000 in 2008 and the board hopes to reduce it to $19,000 during 2009.

Kuhlman said this would be done by signing a service agreement with these firms and by using more of the services of the county computer information technology employee.

"We've cut to the bare minimum," Kuhlman said. He told the commissioners the board may run short in a few areas including equipment and supplies.

The board also indicated it would need an advance to purchase ballots for the special election in February. Vantage, Ottoville, Kalida and Columbus Grove schools will have levies in this special election. Lammers said the ballots have to be ordered before Christmas. The districts that are on the ballot will have to reimburse the county for the costs.

County administrator Jessica Trinko thanked the board for working with the proposed figures that had been presented.

"I appreciate you are making the numbers work for you," she said.