County Clerk - Elections
Overview
Mission Statement
To conduct all local, state and federal elections, issue marriage licenses, file fictitious business name statements, process passport applications, administer notary oaths, serve as the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, and conduct various other professional registrations in a secure, transparent and timely fashion.
Department Overview
Clerk-Elections includes the Clerk Services and Elections divisions. Clerk Services provides professional registrations, processes passport applications, issues marriage licenses, conducts marriages, and provides other services. The Elections Division conducts and certifies all local, state, and federal elections according to local, state, and federal policy.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Budget Summary of Changes
The County Clerk-Elections budget reflects an increase in revenue and expenditures in anticipation to an increase in local jurisdiction participation and corresponding billings for the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election. The remainder of the budget is status quo and includes scheduled and negotiated salary and benefit increases.
Supplemental Budget Summary of Changes
In response to expanded Clerk Services at the South County Government Center and the November 2024 Presidential Election, the Supplemental Budget adds one Extra Help Clerk III and increases Clerk Services overtime. These costs are offset by a decrease in overtime costs in the Elections Division and an increase in Clerk Services revenue. The Extra Help Clerk III will provide for an increase in the number of appointments offered in Watsonville without the loss of staffing in Santa Cruz.
Adopted Budget Summary of Changes
The Adopted Budget adds $291,000 in expenditures and $130,000 in revenues. The changes are from $130,000 in 2023-24 revenue agreements and $215,724 in related appropriations that continue into 2024-25, $89,246 in 2023-24 unspent contract expenditures that continue into 2024-25, and $13,970 in reduced expenditures from 2024-25 concluding budget actions.
Open the Services Overview or Operational Plan Objectives below for more details.
Department Operations and Performance
Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.
Expenses by Service
Expenses and Revenues over time
Personnel Details
The chart below provides the department personnel detail by division, service, and classification.