Monroe’s Registrars of Voters undertook a major redistricting, organized Presidential primaries for both major parties and devised a state required safety plan for Election Day in the event of a school lockdown — and the annual budget referendum is just around the corner.
“Whenever there are requirements for the registrars, the deputies are working by our side,” said Susan Koneff, the Democratic Registrar of Voters.
Republican Registrar of Voters Judy Stripay added, “The deputies go to the same training that we do.”
The town pays a $5,500 annual stipend for its two deputies, Republican Susan Ownes, and Democrat Jan Larsen, and Stripay said that includes no benefits. It comes to $12-an-hour.
The First Selectman's Budget proposal for fiscal year 2013-14 asked for an increase to $14 an hour, which calls for an additional $1,000 to the Registrar of Voters' operating budget. But the Town Council cut the funding from the request.
Now that all budgets are being reviewed by the Board of Finance, Stripay and Koneff are hoping it can be added back in. Both registrars attended Monday night’s budget workshop at town hall.
The deputy registrars have advanced computer skills and their responsibilities include election preparation, canvassing, high school voter registrations and anything the state requires, according to Koneff.
