Elections staff warn postage and equipment maintenance will push up Lincoln County elections budget

At a May 11, 2026 Lincoln County budget meeting, county elections staff told meeting organizers that a postage rate increase and scheduled maintenance for election equipment will raise the elections budget for the upcoming cycle.

The elections administrator said postage will rise "to 90¢, effective July," and that, taken together with multiple scheduled elections, the county faces a substantial increase in mail costs. The administrator said bringing an in‑unit bulk-mail permit into the office could save about $3,000 annually by allowing nonprofit bulk rates rather than mailing piece‑by‑piece.

The discussion centered on concrete line items: the administrator identified a planned maintenance or update to election systems and software (ES&S) priced at $6,904.99 and described professional‑service costs for GIS work tied to county boundary updates ahead of the 2030 census. The administrator also noted advertising costs — full‑page newspaper ads run roughly $1,700 and are required for each election — as a persistent expense driver.

Why this matters: Lincoln County conducts multiple elections per year, including school and general elections, and postage and equipment maintenance affect the cost of every mailed ballot and official notice. With the county’s voter rolls and the number of anticipated elections factored in, staff said the cumulative effect is material to the elections budget.

County staff also flagged a likely July increase in the state minimum wage, estimating a new rate between $11.10 and $11.15. "Which obviously means the lower paying [election] pay will have to go up," the administrator said, noting that payroll line items will reflect that change for temporary polling and ballot‑handling workers.

Officials said last year’s postage costs were lower in part because there was no federal election; this year’s calendar and the vendor maintenance charge are the principal reasons for the increase staff proposed. Meeting organizers asked staff to follow up once salary and contribution figures are finalized so numbers can be entered into the budget system.

Next steps: staff will finalize salary and contribution figures and circulate details; a compensation board meeting will be scheduled later in the month to address pay items.