State Board of Elections

The Enacted Budget passed by the Legislature on May 1, 2003 makes the following changes to the Executive Budget:

·          Rejects the Executive proposal for $3 million for development of a statewide voter registration database in the Regulation of Elections program.

·          Eliminates $3 million in Special Revenue-Federal funds in the Regulation of Elections program related to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

·          Eliminates $65 million in local assistance Special Revenue-Federal funds related to the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

·          According to the Senate Finance Committee, the Legislature denies these appropriations “without prejudice” pending the submission of a reform plan by the New York State Task Force on HAVA. 

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of February 7, 2003):

·          A total of 40 FTEs, which represents a reduction of 5 FTEs from the Governor’s revised estimated FTE level for 3/31/03.  This represents a decrease of 1 FTE from the 3/31/03 estimate made in last year’s Executive Budget.

·          Overall agency funding is increased by $5.9 million (162.6 percent).  This is made up primarily from a new $3 million General Fund maintenance undistributed appropriation for the purposes of developing a statewide voter registration database.

·          A decrease in personal services of $116,000 (4.7 percent) and nonpersonal services of $30,000 (2.7 percent), reflecting the proposed FTE reductions.

·          A new Special Revenue Funds-Federal appropriation of $3 million for the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

·          It appears that the State will be contracting out for the provision of these new services since there is a proposed decrease in the FTE workforce despite an overall $5.9 million increase in the agency’s budget.