Modesto Bee

Counties fear fiscal squeeze of special election
By ERIC STERN
June 14, 2005

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Schwarzenegger has expensive tastes. He likes a good cigar, he wears Prada suits and alligator-skin boots, he skis in Sun Valley, Idaho, and he still can't find an acceptable home in Sacramento for his family.

He also doesn't scrimp on unscheduled elections.

After all, they've been kind to him before, like the October 2003 recall of Gray Davis that put him in office.

Now that he's called a special election for Nov. 8 — featuring his government-reform proposals — Schwarzenegger says the state should pay to open the polls and print all those ballots. Counties generally are responsible for local election costs.

California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson said the election will cost about $45 million more than normal. Counties were planning an abridged election with purely local voting.

In the Northern San Joaquin Valley and foothills, the polls already are going to be open for three Modesto City Council seats, a Ceres mayoral race, school board elections, and spots on irrigation and fire district boards.

The total cost statewide of putting on an election is between $53 million and $70 million, according to the California State Association of Counties.

"It's important for the state to shoulder its portion of this election," said Lee Lundrigan, Stanislaus County's clerk-recorder. The county was planning to spend about $430,000 for local contests this November. Now it will spend about $830,000 to include the statewide ballot issues.

Deborah Hench, registrar of voters in San Joaquin County, said it's a "financial relief" for the state to pay for the added cost of the election.

San Joaquin County plans on spending $1.2 million on the election, about $1 million more than it expected to spend.

"It's not in our budget, just like the recall was not in our budget," she said. "It's something that we can't really afford. The counties are all under financial stress."

It's up to state lawmakers to approve funding for the election. Schwarzenegger said the cost is worth it because taxpayers will benefit from his budget reform plans.

"Do the math," he said during a TV announcement Monday afternoon. "For a buck and a quarter per citizen, you can fix a broken system and save the state billions of dollars. Now remember this is your money. That is a fantastic bargain."

Too expensive, lawmaker says

The final cost could vary depending on the length of the ballot. Five statewide initiatives have qualified, with several more nearing approval. The deadline for local candidates to run for office isn't until midAugust.

"We just have to roll up our sleeves and go ahead and do it," said Tuolumne County ClerkAuditor Tim Johnson, who will oversee a $60,000 election.

The cost of the election already is part of Democratic opponents' campaign strategy. They've attached an $80 million price tag to the Republican governor's special election.

"The governor pulled the trigger on a special election no one needs and few Californians even want," said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. "His decision automatically costs the state 80 million taxpayer dollars — your dollars — money we desperately need for schools and roads."

Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews, D-Tracy, represents San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties. No matter which taxpayers pay for the Nov. 8 election, "it's too much money" that could be better spent elsewhere, she said.