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1 <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />REGULAR MEETING STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA ITEM 2A <br /> <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk <br /> <br />MEETING DATE: February 26, 2024 <br /> <br />TOPIC: Election Judge Pay <br /> <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 2020, City Council approved an increase in Election Judge pay, approving rates of $12.00 per <br />hour for Election Judges/$14.00 per hour for Head Judges for municipal elections and primaries <br />and $13.00 per hour for Election Judges/$16.00 per hour for Head Judges for general elections. <br />These rates have remained unchanged since that time. <br /> <br />While the past practice and past staff recommendations had been to pay different rates <br />according to what election was taking place, current staff recommends a consistent pay rate for <br />Election Judges and Head Judges regardless of the election. This recommendation is based on the <br />fact that those who choose to serve in this capacity are required to complete all the same tasks <br />and are required to work the same hours whether it is a municipal election , a primary, or a <br />general election. While the numbers of voters may vary based on the election, the statutorily <br />required duties and obligations remain the same. <br /> <br />It is also becoming increasingly difficult to recruit for these positions. While the City of Lino Lakes <br />has an adequate number of Election Judges to serve in the upcoming Presidential Nominating <br />Primary (PNP), we are still very short for the upcoming November election. Cities throughout <br />Anoka County and much of Minnesota are struggling to staff even the PNP. An increase in pay <br />may aid in recruiting the election judges required to fully staf f the City’s polling locations for the <br />November election. Anoka County Elections has only hired Election Judges for the purposes of <br />processing absentee ballots this year; the pay rate they have set for that position is $15.41 per <br />hour; they anticipate an increase in pay for next year’s elections. <br /> <br />Based on these considerations, staff suggests an increase in Election Judge pay to $15.00 per <br />hour and increase in Head Judge pay to $17.00 per hour for all elections. There is no anticipated <br />budget impact for 2024 as election judge salary expenses for the PNP will be fully reimbursed; <br />staff elected to not include the reimbursement into 2024 budget calculations as a precautionary <br />measure. <br /> <br /> <br />57