Mahoning commissioners provide more money for election

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners have added $100,000 to the county board of elections budget to cover the high costs associated with this year’s presidential election.

The commissioners took the action Thursday, adding $83,000 for printing costs and $17,000 for payroll for temporary employees. “It’s costly for extra part-time help. It’s costly for overtime,” said Joyce Kale-Pesta, deputy elections director.

Kale-Pesta, whose department started the year with a $1.9 million budget, said she expects to ask the commissioners for $400,000 to $500,000 more to meet this year’s election costs.

She explained some of the increased costs stem from new unfunded mandates from the Ohio Secretary of State, many of which pertain to election security. Kale-Pesta displayed at the meeting two thick loose-leaf binders full of the new 2008 election mandates her department must meet.

“These directives are costly to the county. Some of them, I feel, are not necessary, but they are directives from the secretary of state, which we must follow,” Kale-Pesta told the commissioners.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com