Savings to City Taxpayers with Measure A

By shifting to even-year election cycles and consolidating with everything else on the ballot, the Santa Barbara taxpayers would save $245 thousand (net) each election cycle. Here is how that cost savings would be gained.

Current (2007) City costs to conduct a stand-alone, odd-year election run by the City:
(figures from City staff report, dated 19 June 2007, and interviews with staff)

1. consultant firm for election infrastructure (Martin & Chapman Company) = $126K
2. elections support consultant (Donna M. Grindey, CMC) = $55K
3. retain the full 33 voting precincts (instead of 20 initially proposed) = $15K
4. extra costs budget contingency = $19K
5. other expenses (poll workers, ballot drop off locations, security locks, live TV coverage, etc.) = $65K (actually could be higher under cautious City budget estimate)
   

TOTAL City cost per odd-year, stand-alone election cycle run by the City
(126+15+19+65) = $280K

Typical City costs (from County Elections officials and other interviews) if the stand-alone City elections were switched into consolidated elections conducted by the County:

1. Council election baseline cost for City Council election = $30K
2. Additional City election item, such as Mayor or Ballot Measure = $5K

TOTAL City cost per even-year, consolidated election run by the County
(30+5) = $35K

Therefore, City Taxpayer Savings (net) for Each Even-Year Election Cycle:
($280K minus $35K) = $245K
Additional one-time City savings for skipping the 2009 election and shifting to an even-year election cycle starting in 2010 (based on $245K figure above) = $245K

Savings to City Taxpayers after only 10 Years:

(5 election cycles)x($245K)+($245 saved by skipping 2009 election) = $1,470,000

CONCLUSION: after only 10 years, the City taxpayers would save nearly $1.5 million to become available for other important City budget needs.

For reference, comparisons among election costs for different situations:

• County-run, stand-alone, odd-year election cost (situation ended April 2007) = $550 to 650K
  
• City-run, stand-alone, odd-year election cost (current situation) = $280K
• County-run, consolidated, even-year election cost (future situation under Measure A) = $35K