To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk/Recorder
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
District Resolutions to Transition to Even-Year Elections Pursuant to Senate Bill 415
(California Voter Participation Act)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive staff report;
2. Receive staff impact analysis and district resolution for school and special districts; and
3. Approve school and special district resolutions to transition to even-year elections pursuant California Elections Code, Sections 14050-14057.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
On September 1, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 415 (SB 415), also known as the California Voter Participation Act (CVPA), into law becoming Division 14, Chapter 1.7 of the Election Code, Sections 14050-14057 (Attachment 1). The law requires school and special districts with regularly scheduled odd-year elections that have experienced “significant decrease in voter turnout” in a regularly scheduled election to transition to even-year statewide general elections. Significant decrease in voter turnout is described as voter turnout that is at least 25 percent less than the average turnout for the previous four statewide general elections.
Districts meeting the threshold were required to adopt a plan by January 1, 2018, to consolidate with even-year elections not later than the November 8, 2022, statewide general election. Humboldt County has 34 school and community college districts, one county school board, and 43 special districts subject to the provisions of SB 415. Pursuant to Elections Code, Sections 10404(b)(2) and 10404.5(b) (Attachment 1), districts transitioning to even-year elections must submit a resolution to the Board of Supervisors “no later than 240 days prior to the date of the currently scheduled district election”.
Districts transitioning to even-year elections in 2017 were required to submit resolutions to the Board of Supervisors by March 11, 2017. From December 13, 2016, to date, the Board approved 31 school and 25 special district resolutions to transition to even-year elections.
Districts transitioning to even-year elections prior to the 2019 Unified District Election were required to submit resolutions by March 10th. One school district and two special districts have submitted resolutions. Impact analyses and resolutions for these districts are attached as Attachment 2 for the Board’s consideration and approval. Board approval of district election cycle changes will affect the districts’ 2019 election cycle.
School District
Garfield School District
Special Districts
Briceland Community Services District
Willow Creek Community Services District
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This item impacts the General Fund. Although districts transitioning to even-year elections will experience savings, the County of Humboldt and districts continuing to hold odd-year elections will experience cost increases. The General Fund currently absorbs 87 percent of statewide general election costs and will experience cost increases generated by additional materials, equipment testing, ballot processing, and staffing. Districts continuing with odd-year elections will see cost increases generated by fewer districts sharing election costs. As election costs vary depending on type of election and a variety of variables that change from one election to the next, it’s difficult to forecast a specific dollar amount.
Although Elections Code, Sections 10404(f) and 10404.5(e), directs districts to reimburse the Office of Elections for costs associated with mailing postcards, outlying costs will still fall to the General Fund to absorb. Some of these costs include Board of Supervisors notification to districts of transitions to even-year elections and the Office of Elections processing of returned voter postcards.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services and fostering transparent, accessible, welcoming and user friendly services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Board of Supervisors
School Districts
Community Services Districts
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors could request Elections staff return with further analyses before approving district resolution.
ATTACHMENTS:
California Elections Code, Sections 14050-14057 and 10404-10404.5
District Impact Analyses and Resolutions
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A