By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE - The inability of some states to conduct an election could cost Hawkins County residents approximately one-cent on the property tax rate, according to Commissioner Virgil Mallett.
    The Hawkins County Election Commission  presented two 2009-10 spending plans for Budget Committee members to review, one totaling $401,438 with the other costing  $330,041.
    The $71,397 difference, according to Administrator of Elections Patricia Lumpkins involves the cost of complying with a state and federal law requiring the county to implement a system of paper ballots and optical scanners by November 2010.
    Lumpkins said the legislature is considering, but has not as of yet acted on, a plan to delay the transition until 2012.
    "The paper ballots are going to cost us a lot more.  Even if the delay is approved I thought it would be better to submit both budgets and ask for the larger amount to begin with. It is easier to take out money you don't need than to come up with that much money," Lumpkins told committee members.
    In addition to the cost of printing the ballots the county will have to purchase voting booths and workers will have to have additional training.
    Commissioner Virgil Mallett said the legislation requiring the switch to paper ballots is a typical example of an "unfunded mandate" from officials in Washington D. C. that local officials are forced to deal with.
    The requirement for a paper trail was the result of legislation following problems with the 2000 presidential election.
    "We never had any problems with our elections here in Hawkins County. We know how to hold an election here but just because they don't know what they are doing in states like Florida and Ohio we are going to have to pay for it," Mallett said.
    Mallett noted the increased cost is approximately the same amount of money generated by a cent on the county's property tax rate.
    "Another problem I have with all this is we just spent all that money on new voting machines and people are used to them and like them and now we are going to have to get rid of them," Commissioner Charles Thacker added.