FREEHOLD – The recent consolidation of operations within Board of Elections and the Superintendent of Elections has resulted in a yearly savings of $183,000 – more than three times the conservative earlier estimates of $50,000.
 
The savings were created by abolishing six full-time positions, reducing the number of full-time positions in the combined office to 45, said Robert M. Czech, Monmouth County administrator. If fringe benefits are factored in, the total annual savings is $258,030, Czech said.
 
“This is good news for taxpayers and shows how Monmouth County looks for ways to create efficiencies and keep the size of county government manageable,” Freeholder William C. Barham said. “This is not the first consolidation of county services. Wherever we are able identify real cost savings without impacting services we have acted on it.”
 
Board of Elections’ employees began reporting to the Superintendent of Elections’ office in January. Since both offices are located in the same building on Halls Mills Road, a physical move was unnecessary. However, all employees now report to Hedra Siskel, the superintendent of elections.
 
The restructuring was triggered by the failure on the part of the Board of Elections to prepare a timely Request for Proposals for the printing of voting authority pads, which voters sign before casting their ballots. This failure caused the county’s Purchasing Department to quickly obtain informal quotes in order to have the pads printed in time for the Feb. 5 presidential primary.
 
“The Board of Chosen Freeholders consolidated the operations of both offices and facilitated the timely preparation of ballots and election results for the presidential primary,” Barham said. “The consolidation has proven to be flawless in the delivery of services to voters and, as it bears out, it was the right thing to do. Additionally, the legal challenge that resulted from the consolidation has proved to be without merit and the combined work product of the two offices will continue.”
 
“Because Hedra Siskel had previously served as administrator of the Board of Elections, we were confident the consolidation would correct inefficiencies and produce and produce cost savings.”  Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton said. “I am pleased with the consolidation so far.”
 
The positions that were eliminated include the administrator, two custodians of voting machines, two election clerk typists and an assistant superintendent of elections.
 

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