Outgoing Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis presented his budget request to the county board, despite his likely successor Joanna Francescut poised to take over the role. Curtis proposed leasing a new building and implementing an in-house ballot printing system, estimating costs of nearly $5.4 million, an increase of almost $1 million from the previous year.

Measure B Costs Not Included

However, Curtis’ budget request did not include costs associated with implementing Measure B, a controversial election initiative set to become law later this month. Francescut emphasized the need to prioritize these costs, stating that the changes will require additional resources and outreach to explain the changes to voters.

Curtis’ proposal to lease a new building, the former Joann Fabrics on Dana Drive, was met with skepticism by Francescut, who noted that the costs of retrofitting the space and relocating office equipment and staff were not included in the budget request. Francescut also expressed concern about the idea of in-house printing, citing the potential strain on staff during election periods.

The county board will continue to discuss and deliberate on the budget request in the coming days. As the election office prepares for the November 2026 election, the implementation of Measure B and the potential changes to the voting process remain a key concern for voters and officials alike.

Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.