Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City Clerk to apply for and accept a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) subgrant from the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Under a formula established by the WI Elections Commission, grant amounts are determined by providing a $200 base plus $1.10 for each registered voter. Based on this formula, Madison will receive $198,200. Eligible costs under the grant program include: additional ballot supplies, printing, postage, personal protective equipment, and polling location cleaning.
The Clerk’s Office is planning to utilize the increased funding for postage costs driven by increased levels of absentee voting. The 2020 Adopted Budget included $60,000 for postage costs, as of June 30, 2020, the Clerk's Office spent nearly $145,000 on postage, largely driven by April absentee ballot mailing costs.
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SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing the City Clerk to apply for and accept a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) subgrant from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and amending the 2020 Adopted Operating Budget to increase the City Clerk's Supplies budget by $198,200.
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The Wisconsin Elections Commission has created the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) program to help defray administrative expenses incurred by municipalities
due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
WHEREAS, the City of Madison as a municipality has a proud history of fair and transparent elections with the focus on the voter, and
WHEREAS, the Madison City Clerk's Office is committed to the never-ending goal of all eligible voters being able to vote and having their votes counted, and
WHEREAS, the Coronavirus pandemic has had a marked effect on election administration including difficulty securing polling places, safety for Election Officials working the polls and an extraordinary increase in the number of absentee ballot requests, and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk's Office completed a racial equity analysis of the April election held during a pandemic finding that communities of color tend to prefer in-person voting, and
WHEREAS, going forward, more deliberate planning will need to continue to create an environment where underrepresented parts of our community can safely and easily vote, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Madison authorizes the City Clerk to apply for, and accept a CARES subgrant from the Wisconsin Elections Commission for the purpose of continuing and expanding open and transparent elections.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Madison 2020 Adopted Operating Budget for the City Clerk's Office is amended to increase the Supplies budget for the Clerk's Office by $198,200.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute grant agreement(s) as needed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to accept the grant.