LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials consider buying electronic voting machines

Commissioners are refinancing a $5 million loan.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are looking into buying electronic voting machines for the coming general election.
Commissioner Brian Burick said Thursday that he is interested in acting as quickly as possible.
The county now uses an optical scanner system to tabulate paper ballots. Problems with the system kept election workers at the county courthouse until 3:30 a.m. May 28 counting the ballots for the Primary Election. The county has been using the optical scanner system since 1985.
Favors purchase
Commissioner Roger DeCarbo Sr. has also been in favor of buying electronic voting machines this year.
DeCarbo said the touch screen voting system will pay for itself because the county will not have to print paper ballots and there will be fewer people working each election.
It has been estimated the touch screen machines and accompanying software will cost the county $1 million.
Refinancing loan
In other business, county commissioners are planning to refinance a $5 million loan they took out in 2000 to pay for a new 911 addressing system and countywide reassessment.
Officials say they expect to get $90,000 back from the refinancing.
The county's bond counsel, Commonwealth Securities Investment of Pittsburgh, recommended the county refinance because of low interest rates, said Charleen Micco, the county's chief clerk.
The yearly payment on the loan will remain the same, and it will be paid off by 2010, she said.
Commissioners said they could possibly use the $90,000 to help pay for new touch screen voting machines.
A public hearing about the loan refinancing is planned for 9 a.m. Monday in the commissioner's meeting room.
cioffi@vindy.com