Title
Consideration of and action on an ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget for the City Secretary's Office.
Body
Summary:
The Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget for the City Secretary's Office includes funding for the costs of any regular or special election planned by the City. In Deer Park, Council members serve two-year staggered terms, with the Mayor and three Council members elected in odd numbered years and the three remaining Council members elected in even numbered years. While these elections are held in May of each year, in March 2020 Governor Abbott issued a proclamation postponing the May 2, 2020 local elections and special elections to the November 3, 2020 uniform election date because of the pandemic. As a result of this change to the uniform election date, the City's local election was placed under the administrative control of Harris County in accordance with state and federal statutes. Because Harris County prorates the cost of their election administration to all jurisdictions in Harris County that participate in the election, the City became responsible for a significant cost because one of the Council members running for re-election had an opponent. In Fiscal Year 2019-2020, the City was required to pay a deposit to Harris County in the amount of $46,619.87 (60.75 percent of the final total of $76,740.52). The balance due will be paid in Fiscal Year 2020-2021, which will also require a budget amendment for these unexpected costs (note: the City has been reimbursed for a portion of these costs through the Harris County Small Cities Assistance Program). While favorable variances in other line items offset a portion of this extra expenditure, a budget amendment in the amount of $2,100.00 is requested to appropriate the additional funds necessary to fully fund the City Secretary's Office for the fiscal year. This additional appropriation would be funded by the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund.
Fiscal/Budgetary Im...
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