Cortland County officials on Thursday unanimously approved an amended proposal that would create 200 poll inspector positions at a rate of $16-per-hour.
The proposal, put forth at the County’s Government Operations Committee, initially called for poll inspectors to be paid the New York state minimum wage of $13.20.
“I do want to say these people are volunteering their time,” said Legislator Kelly Preston (R-LD-10). She noted the county is currently “getting a bargain” on poll inspectors. “I don’t think they signed up for the money. They do it because they feel it is their public duty. They should be paid the fair amount.”
Legislative Majority Leader George Wagner (R-LD-15) and legislator Paul Heider (R-LD-16) both asked for the hourly wage to be revisited, proposing $15 an hour to be the floor for pollsters’ earnings. Heider made a formal amendment to establish the positions at $16-per-hour. Preston was the only one to vote against the resolution.
“I don’t think the county should be looking for bargains,” Heider said.
Part of the discussion on the resolution turned to the financial feasibility of the raise for pollsters.
“Our budget can handle it without any problem,” County administrator Rob Corpora said. “The biggest question I have is: Are you going to be able to get the people you need to be able to run the elections?”
County Republican elections commissioner Robert Howe responded.
“That is the question,” he said. “We only got one response to our ad. It is not easy because the hours have expanded. They have to be up from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is a long day.”
The resolution indicates that these positions will be established on April 28. Further discussion and approval is expected at the County’s Finance and Administration Committee and later at the county legislature meeting.
The discussion on this proposal can be seen here.
