We suspect that the Belmont County Board of Elections is not alone in having to cope with a deep cut in spending for the current year. Throughout Ohio, county governments are facing budget shortfalls as serious as - and in some cases worse than - what is happening at the state level.
Late last year, the local elections board was notified that its funding from the county will be reduced by 10 percent. County commissioners have decided they can spare only $591,000 for the board in 2009. That is one-tenth less than the $651,000 provided last year - and $122,000 less than the amount the board had requested.
Commissioners have no choice. Every department and agency in county government has been told to find ways to cut spending, by at least 10 percent.
While Belmont County's financial situation is unique in a way, because of decreased revenue from the county sales tax, many other local governments are in trouble, too.
With no major election to hold this year, the county election boards probably will be able to find ways to cope with the spending cut. But their expenses will continue growing in the future, in large measure because of changes in state election rules and laws. In turn, many of those more expensive state mandates have resulted from changes in federal law.
It has become much, much more expensive to hold elections in Ohio. As matters stand, there is no reason to expect any relief.
State officials, including Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Gov. Ted Strickland and legislators, have trouble enough on their own hands. It has been predicted that state government may be as much as $7.5 billion short of meeting anticipated needs for spending during the next two-year budget.
Still, we urge all involved to take a look at state election rules, in an effort to find ways to reduce costs for county election boards. Instead of mandating expensive new equipment and procedures, state officials should be finding ways to lessen the burden on counties.