Clerk to seek special election reimbursement

Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard announced following the closing of the polls Wednesday that he intends to send a bill to the State of Michigan for reimbursement of election costs. "This Special Election put a roughly $200,000 unexpected burden in to already set local budgets across Oakland County," said Bullard. "We do not lay blame for the Special Election on the Governor or the State, that lies with Thad McCotter, however local governments simply cannot bear the full burden of the costs associated with this either." "Following Michigan law we will be submitting a detailed bill to the State within the designated 90 day window and ask that they seek a supplemental appropriation from the Legislature for these costs in accordance with Michigan law. "The Special Election was called by the Governor on his offices interpretation of the Constitution at the rough cost of $17.92 per ballot cast in Oakland County," said Bullard. "We ask that they look again at the Constitution and act responsibly on behalf of local governments in terms of funding this albatross of an unfunded mandate they have hung around our necks." Published: Fri, Sep 7, 2012