HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report - Elections Manager-Auditors Office 8.10.26 KITTITAS COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
STAFF REPORT FOR
STUDY SESSION
AUDITOR'S OFFICE
STUDY SESSION DATE: 8/10/2026
TOPIC: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between Kittitas County and
Local 792CH, Courthouse Unit, to recognize and classify the Elections
Manager position in the Auditor's Office.
ACTION REQUESTED: Approval
LEAD STAFF: Bryan Elliott, Auditor
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Kittitas
County and Local 792CH, Courthouse Unit, to recognize and classify the Elections
Manager position within the Auditor's Office.
BRIEFING SUMMARY: The Auditor's Office is requesting approval of a Memorandum
of Understanding with Local 792CH to formally recognize and classify the Elections
Manager position. This is a follow-up implementation action to the Auditor's Office
succession plan previously presented to the Board earlier this year.
The Elections Manager position is part of the planned restructuring of Auditor's Office
administration in preparation for the Chief Administrator transition. The position will
provide dedicated oversight of election administration, which has become increasingly
complex due to statutory, operational, security, technology, and public service
requirements.
The draft MOU and job description have been reviewed and approved by the union.
Approval of this MOU does not add an additional permanent FTE to the Auditor's
Office.
BACKGROUND: The Auditor's Office is preparing for the transition of its Chief
Administrator, Sue Higginbotham. Earlier this year, the Auditor presented a succession
plan to the Board to preserve institutional knowledge, maintain continuity of operations,
and address the increasing complexity of the Auditor's Office functions.
That plan proposed restructuring the Chief Administrator's current portfolio into two
focused areas: a Chief Administrator role with oversight of licensing, recording,
administrative, and financial functions; and an Elections Manager role with dedicated
responsibility for election administration.
Page 1 of 2
Public Defense"Study Session Staff Report", 8/10/2026
This approach allows the Auditor's Office to implement the approved succession plan
within the existing staffing structure while improving focused management of elections,
licensing, and recording operations.
DISCUSSION: The proposed MOU formally recognizes and classifies the Elections
Manager position within the Courthouse bargaining unit.
This action is necessary to complete the classification step identified in the Auditor's
Office succession plan. The Elections Manager will provide dedicated leadership for
election operations, including election-cycle planning, compliance requirements, staff
coordination, public service functions, and continuity of institutional knowledge.
Approval of the MOU allows the Auditor's Office to proceed with hiring and onboarding
for the Elections Manager position in advance of the Chief Administrator transition.
FISCAL IMPACTS: There is no additional permanent FTE added to the Auditor's Office
as a result of this MOU.
Julie Cloninger was promoted from Deputy Auditor to Chief Administrator in July, and
her Deputy Auditor position is currently vacant. As a result, the Auditor's Office is
implementing the succession plan within the existing staffing structure rather than adding
a new permanent FTE.
The approximate budget impact at year end is $17k of the original $35k allocated for
succession overlap, leaving approximately $18k available for hiring and onboarding the
Elections Manager position.
The Board previously authorized up to $8,494 beyond the original budgeted amount for
succession overlap. This authorized overage, combined with projected salary and benefit
savings within the 2026 Auditor's Office budget, provides sufficient budget capacity to
hire the Elections Manager position in mid-September.
Approval of this MOU does not request additional budget authority. It formally classifies
the Elections Manager position so the Auditor's Office may continue implementing the
previously approved succession plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
• MOU—Elections Manager
• Elections Manager Job Description
Finance consulted? Yes
Human Resources consulted: Yes
Page 2 of 2
Public Defense"Study Session Staff Report", 8/10/2026