REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 18, 2025
FROM
JOANI FINWALL, Registrar of Voters
SUBJECT
Title
Registrar of Voters Budgetary Adjustments for Fiscal Year 2025-26
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept the allocation from the California Department of Finance in the amount of $24.8 million for full funding of the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, received on September 25, 2025.
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact Section, for expenses related to the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Joani Finwall, Registrar of Voters, 387-2100)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Registrar of Voters (ROV) requests budget adjustments to the 2025-26 budget, as reflected in the table below, to provide sufficient appropriation for costs associated with the one-time November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election. The budget adjustments will be funded by the allocation from the California Department of Finance of $24.8 million.
|
Funds Center |
Commitment Item/ GL Account |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
6800001000 |
51001010 |
Regular Salary |
Increase |
$258,814 |
|
6800001000 |
52002042 |
Cellular/Other Services |
Increase |
$365,449 |
|
6800001000 |
52002133 |
ROV Non-County Election Workers |
Increase |
$ 2,000,000 |
|
6800001000 |
52002135 |
Special Department Expense |
Increase |
$8,139,695 |
|
6800001000 |
52002304 |
Office Expense Outside Vendors |
Increase |
$286,403 |
|
6800001000 |
52002310 |
Presort & Packaging |
Increase |
$500,000 |
|
6800001000 |
52002335 |
Temporary Help |
Increase |
$9,584,752 |
|
6800001000 |
52002445 |
Other Professional and Special Services |
Increase |
$1,187,208 |
|
6800001000 |
52002450 |
Application Development Enhancement |
Increase |
$1,000,000 |
|
6800001000 |
52002895 |
Rents & Leases - Equipment |
Increase |
$1,149,717 |
|
6800001000 |
52942940 |
Private Mileage Non-Taxable |
Increase |
$3,000 |
|
6800001000 |
52942943 |
Meals - Non-Taxable |
Increase |
$30,000 |
|
6800001000 |
55405010 |
Salaries & Benefit Transfer Out |
Increase |
$205,720 |
|
6800001000 |
55405012 |
Services & Supply Transfer Out |
Increase |
$167,000 |
|
6800001000 |
40408840 |
State Other |
Increase |
$24,877,758 |
On August 19, 2025, the California Department of Finance requested county election officials to estimate the costs of the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election. ROV provided the cost estimate of $24.8 million to the Department of Finance on August 21, 2025. On September 25, 2025, the Department of Finance electronically deposited the allocated amount.
At the time the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the 2025-26 budget, the Governor had not declared that there would be a special election. Therefore, ROV did not include the special election expenses in the budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On August 21, 2025, the State Legislature approved, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 280, which, among other things, called for a special election to be held throughout the state on November 4, 2025.
ROV’s 2025-26 budget did not include funding for the special election. SB 280 appropriated an amount from the General Fund for the necessary cost for counties to conduct the special election, as determined by the Director of Finance.
On September 5, 2025, the Department of Finance requested the State Controller’s Office to remit payment directly to the county elections officials for the special election.
On September 25, 2025, ROV received $24.8 million to cover all the election expenses, therefore not requiring the use of any additional General Fund money.
The budget adjustment consists of election expenses, such as payroll expenses for temporary staff, poll workers (County and non-County), other county departments, and Innovation and Technology staff; special department expenses like ballots, Voter Information Guides, polling places payments; postage and mail chargers, professional services and rental services for equipment and vehicle rentals; and office supplies.
There is no contract associated with this State funding; however, the Department of Finance will require ROV to submit a report providing documentation of expenses to show how the funding was spent. Any State funds not used for the special election must be carried over to help finance the share of the cost of the June 2026 Statewide Primary Election, attributed to State offices and initiatives on the ballot.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 3, 2025; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on October 7, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on October 21, 2025.