OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sSB-441
AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
OVERSIGHT.
Primary Analyst: TM 4/15/24
Contributing Analyst(s): LG
Reviewer: PR
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 25 $ FY 26 $
Secretary of the State GF - Cost Approximately
250,000
Approximately
250,000
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits
1
GF - Cost 98,759 98,759
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 25 $ FY 26 $
Various Municipalities Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Explanation
The bill establishes the Municipal Election Accountability Board
(MEAB) within the office of the Secretary of the State (SOTS) and
empowers the board to review misconduct when a case is referred to
them and provide oversight when violations have occurred, resulting in
a cost to the State of approximately $350,000 in FY 25 and FY 26, and a
potential cost to municipalities.
The board is empowered to institute oversight of a municipality for
violations along a four-tier basis consisting of varying levels of oversight
1
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 41.25% of payroll in FY 25. 2024SB-00441-R000483-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
authority if misconduct is found. There is a potential cost to
municipalities depending upon if misconduct is found and what
oversight is designated by MEAB.
The bill results in a cost of $250,000 in FY 25 and FY 26 for salary and
other expenses to SOTS and $99,000 for fringe benefits for three
additional staff members to facilitate the board as outlined in the bill
(Attorney II, Administrative Assistant, and a Elections Officer
2
). There
is an additional cost due to the requirement for reimbursement of
expenses to board members reasonable expenses related to the
performance of the job. This may include things like meeting space,
software, technology required to facilitate meetings. This cost is
expected to vary depending upon the number of meetings required.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation, wage increases, the number
of meetings and oversight decisions of MEAB.
2
There is an annual salary cost of $97,141 for an Attorney II; $62,221 for and
Administrative Assistant; and $80,053 for an Elections Officer.