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AUDITOR - FINANCE : $ 1 , 027, 2021 No (1 ) Personnel Change Requests Adopted 2025: $99%961 / 2026 Pro forma: $999,303 No Capital Expenditure Requests NARRATIVE (OPTIONAL): The Auditors Office budget request for 2026 represents an 8% increase in the General Fund compared to the 2025 budget. This year-over-year increase is primarily driven by two key personnel requests aimed at ensuring continuity and improving operational efficiency. Non-personnel expenses will remain flat against prior year and new initiatives such as the ballot box cameras will be funded through grants. Additionally, the Auditors Office is working with IT to continue support for the county's firewall subscription through Crowdstrike which will be funded by grants from the OSOS. The first new personnel request is for a three-month overlap to allow a new Chief Administrator to train side-by-side with our retiring current Chief Administrator, Sue Higginbotham. This will ensure a smooth transition and maintain our high standards of service. The second request is for a Purchasing and Contracts Manager position. While a new role, I encourage the county to explore ways to fill this position without increasing the overall full-time equivalent (FTE) count. This is a critical business need for the entire county, as it would significantly improve our compliance with state, federal, and local purchasing and contract laws. The role would also be instrumental in identifying areas of efficiency to reduce overall expenses by consolidating contracts. I am open to discussing where this position would best reside within our County organizational structure to achieve these goals. Our projected revenue for 2026 has decreased by 2% compared to the 2025 budget, the result of a shifting grant environment. However, in 2026, we will continue to leverage our three primary grant funding sources: HAVA, OSOS security, and OSOS information grants. These funds will be used to complete targeted upgrades to our physical and digital infrastructure, improving election security and transparency without impacting county funds. We are committed to increasing efficiency and reducing costs where possible. The planned upgrade to Cayenta will allow the county to sunset subscriptions for Novatime and QuickBooks in the ETF. We are also actively supporting the end-of-life process for Cashtax and the IT department's planned deconstruction of CAMAS.