State reimbursement for the costs of the upcoming special primary and elections will not come until after October’s election is over, Hunterdon County Administrator Cynthia Yard told freeholders Tuesday. That means the county should be prepared to authorize and pay overtime for poll workers during both elections, Yard said. Though the board offered no protest, Freeholder Matthew Holt asked Yard to reassure him that poll workers would be closely monitoring their hours and expenses. “I just want to make sure they’re tracking that,” Holt said. …The state Office of Legislative Services projects both elections to cost about $24 million statewide.
Last month, clerks in Warren and Hunterdon counties offered varied estimates for what the special primary and election might cost. Warren County Clerk Patricia Kolb said that each could cost about $50,000 while Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi offered a higher estimate of about $190,000 apiece.
In a separate action Tuesday, Hunterdon freeholders also approved a requisition to print ballots for the special election in the amount of $50,971. Warren County Deputy Clerk Betty Wilson said Wednesday county officials had also been informed state funding wouldn’t trickle in until after both elections, possibly later into 2014. Wilson said Warren County is also now preparing itself to accommodate overtime pay requests.
Full Article: Hunterdon, Warren counties won’t receive special election funding until after votes | lehighvalleylive.com.