Pay levels for Starke County poll workers are in line with those in the rest of the state, according to Clerk Vicki Cooley. “Our inspectors get paid more on the average than other counties in Indiana,” she told the Starke County Election Board Thursday. “Our judges are $2.90 behind average, which you’re still right in there. To me, there’s no point in changing just because your two dollars off. You know, all of these statistics show we’re right probably where we should be.”
Cooley said she researched the issue, after hearing that some poll workers felt they needed a raise. “Actually we’re better off, especially on your meals,” she said. “Some of these people brown bag it, and I cannot see [doing that] because everybody’s going to forget their meals or something, and then you’re going to have these people running into the poll booths wanting to deliver a meal or something.”
The discussion came up during a review of the election board’s 2018 budget. It calls for a total of $112,900. That’s an increase of over $11,000 from the 2016 election cycle.
Also during Thursday’s meeting, the Starke County Election Board continued looking into a new polling place for the Oregon 2 precinct. Board members visited the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse to inspect the site for ADA compliance and other space requirements.
