OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sSB-472
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RISK -
LIMITING AUDITS WORKING GROUP.
Primary Analyst: LG 4/13/22
Contributing Analyst(s): CP, JS
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 23 $ FY 24 $
Secretary of the State GF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
UConn Various - Cost 625,000 400,000
Note: GF=General Fund; Various=Various
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 23 $ FY 24 $
Various Municipalities Cost See Below See Below
Explanation
This bill implements risk-limiting audits by January 1, 2024 for state
elections but maintains the existing post-election audit process for
federal and state primaries and municipal elections. The bill is
anticipated to result in costs to municipalities and the University of
Connecticut, and potential costs to the Secretary of the State (SOTS), as
described below.
The bill allows the (SOTS) to prescribe instructions for the registrars
of voters to conduct the risk-limiting audits. Under this bill, election
officials who participate in administering and conducting risk-limiting
audits must be compensated at the municipality's standard rate of pay
for electors. These requirements will result in various costs to
municipalities beginning in FY 24. The extent of the cost will depend on 2022SB-00472-R000480-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
the requirements of the risk-limiting audit and the level of
compensation for the election officials.
The bill expands the University of Connecticut's post-election
responsibilities to include risk-limiting audits, which is estimated to
result in costs of at least $625,000 in FY 23 and $400,000 in FY 24, as well
as additional costs in the out years. It is anticipated that the FY 23 costs
will consist of an estimated $600,000 in personnel costs (including fringe
benefits), for two new personnel (a Principal Investigator and an
Engineer) and supplementary time from existing staff. Additionally,
$25,000 in equipment and travel expenses are expected. After the year
of start-up, costs will decline to approximately $400,000 in FY 24 and FY
25, then remain at approximately $225,000 annually thereafter. These
costs may be borne by either the General Fund or the university's other
revenues (e.g., tuition). If wage costs are funded through the General
Fund, then the fringe benefits costs will be incurred within the Office of
the State Comptroller.
The bill also expands the SOTS's responsibility to include risk-
limiting audits. The SOTS may incur costs for additional staff and
technology depending on the extent of these responsibilities.
Additionally, the bill establishes a pilot program to conduct risk-
limiting audits at municipal elections in 2023. The pilot program will
consist of three municipalities, randomly selected by the SOTS. This
may result in various costs in FY 23 to each municipality selected.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.