Primary Department: County Clerk
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Teneshia Hudspeth
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the County Clerk’s Office for approval of additional funding to sustain and enhance the voter education and outreach program, and to support 33 new Position Control Numbers (PCNs) including direct and indirect costs associated with FY 2026 election operations, including z-time compensation for exempt employees, compliance with Senate Bill 2216, requiring specific early voting election security measures, and other necessary election-related expenses in the total amount of $4,946,642.00.
end
Background and Discussion:
The County Clerk’s Office requests approval of z-time compensation for full-time exempt Elections Department employees to address extraordinary workload demands associated with overlapping 2026 elections. Due to sustained operational requirements, many employees have reached the 240-hour compensatory time cap and are unable to accrue additional comp time despite routinely working extended hours. This request provides compensation for hours worked beyond 40 per week, supports employee retention and morale, and ensures continuity of critical election functions. The proposed coverage period is December 27, 2025, through May 29, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $363,451.44.
A significant portion of these unanticipated expenses is attributable to compliance with SB 2216 (89th Legislative Session), which requires ballots and election equipment used during early voting be securely stored. As a result, peace officers are required to unlock and secure ballot storage areas at all vote centers each day of early voting. This requirement has created additional logistical demands and costs that were not originally budgeted.
In addition, this item includes funding for the Voter Education and Outreach Program. While the program was initially supported by grants, the $5 million in ARPA funds was fully expended in 2024. The program supports voter education through multiple communication channels, including earned media, paid media, social media, and trusted community messengers. Outreach will inform voters about updated in-person and Ballot by Mail procedures, key dates and deadlines, changes to congressional district maps, and the schedule of multiple consecutive elections, with the goal of reducing confusion and addressing voter fatigue.
Lastly, the County Clerk’s Office is requesting approval for 33 additional PCNs, including 15 Election Trainer PCNs, 12 Help Desk Clerk PCNs (call center), 5 Ballot by Mail Clerk PCNs, and 1 Chinese-language Ballot Proofing Translator PCN, for a total labor budget impact of $2,069,142 in the FY26 General Fund.
Expected Impact:
Alternative Options: N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Election Operations |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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1000 - General Fund |
$2,069,142.00 |
$2,877,500.00 |
$4,946,642.00 |
$5,222,633.00 |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$2,069,142.00 |
$2,877,500 |
$4,946,642.00 |
$5,222,633.00 |
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Total Funding Sources |
$2,069,142.00 |
$2,877,500 |
$4,946,642.00 |
$5,222,633.00 |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
33 |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
33 |
- |
- |
- |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/29/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Teneshia Hudspeth, County Clerk, County Clerk’s Office
Attachments (if applicable):