LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session March 28, 1997 TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 510 Committee on State Affairs By: Madla Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB510 ( Relating to conducting and financing primary elections.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB510-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive impact of $1,957,711 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 1999. Fiscal Analysis The bill would permit precinct conventions of more than one party to be held in the same building, in separate rooms, and authorize joint primary elections. The county clerk would supervise the overall conduct of the joint primary elections. The joint primary would be administered by co-judges and clerks selected by the county clerk pursuant to rules prescribed by the Secretary of State. Each party would use separate ballot boxes, and the Secretary of State could prescribe rules to ensure that each party's ballots were easily distinguishable. The election returns from the joint primary would be separately prepared and canvassed by each party. A county would not be liable for additional expenses as a result of a joint primary. State funds would pay for the polling places and workers used in a joint primary election. Each county chair conducting a joint primary election would be compensated $300.00. The Secretary of State would prescribe rules for filing cost reports for joint primary elections, and for financing joint primary elections. Methodolgy The Secretary of State estimated the potential savings utilizing the primary costs for 1996 and assuming that all counties would conduct joint primaries. The Secretary of State further assumed that while approximately 37% of counties already share polling places and transportation of equipment, the shared cost savings for election judges and clerks would apply to all counties. The shared cost savings for election judges and clerks was derived by eliminating the cost of two election clerks per party for both the primary election and the runoff: 254 counties x 4 elections x 2 clerks x 14 hours/clerk x $5.00/hour, resulting in a savings of $142,240. The shared cost saving for the rental of polling places and transportation of equipment would apply to 63% of the counties, resulting in a savings of $264,666 for rental costs and $222,207 for transportation of equipment costs. The projected savings on chairman compensation would be $390,370 as the result of a set rate of $300 per chairman. Savings on miscellaneous election day expenses were estimated at $240,390, which is 50 percent of the 1996 cost, as the county clerk would supervise the overall conduct of joint primary elections. Savings on administrative expenses were estimated at $697,838. An overall savings of $1,957,711 was determined. The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Five Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 0001 1998 $1,957,711 1998 0 2000 1,957,711 2001 0 2002 1,957,711 Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds: The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds during each of the first five years is estimated as follows: Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative) General Revenue Related Funds Funds 1998 $1,957,711 1999 0 2000 1,957,711 2001 0 2002 1,957,711 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 307 Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK ,JD ,JC