Title
Elections Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the attached budget amendment to increase revenue and appropriations for the Elections Department Fiscal Year 2020-21 Adopted Budget by $369,296 to include grant 20G26109 from the State of California for prevention, preparation and response to coronavirus for the 2020 Federal election cycle.
FUNDING: Federal Grant.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The grant funds are made available through federal Help America Vote Act, and will be used "to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, for the 2020 Federal election cycle". The amount of $296,706 can be used to conduct the November 2020 election in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and $72,590 can be used for outreach and communication with voters about voting opportunities during this pandemic.
The term of the agreement will be upon execution and expire December 31, 2020. The funds will be used for additional printing and postage costs, ballot tracking costs, extra staffing at vote centers to ensure voters have proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), curbside voting, training election workers on proper cleaning processes, setting up equipment to ensure social distancing and outreach and communication regarding procedural changes to the voting process.
Board Policy A-23 authorizes departments to apply for, accept, and use federal or state funding made available to respond to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency as long as there is no required County match of funds and County Counsel and the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) have reviewed and approved the grant application. This criteria has been met and the CAO has referred the Department to policy A-23 for further direction regarding Department responsibilities and monthly reporting requirements.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve...
Click here for full text