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Elections Supervisor Withdraws Request For More Money

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2008

Updated: 12/19/2008 07:04 pm

TAMPA - In what might be a moot point, Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson has withdrawn his request for $2.3 million to cover cost overruns in his office.

Johnson, in an e-mail to commissioners Friday afternoon, said he would let incoming supervisor Phyllis Busansky decide how to handle the deficit. Busansky defeated Johnson in the Nov. 4 election by 18,000 votes.

"Our goal in submitting the budget request was to finalize the election cycle before leaving office so the incoming supervisor could focus on the future," Johnson wrote. "I feel it is best to withdraw the request so Mrs. Busansky can review the budget and make her own decision about the (budget) amendment."

That probably would have happened anyway. On Wednesday, commissioners turned down Johnson's request for the money, instead ordering an audit of his office.

Johnson could not be reached for comment.

In his letter, the embattled elections supervisor also accused Busansky and the county attorney of launching a "surreptitious" investigation of Premier Election Solutions, the company that sold the county optical scan voting machines. The machines were blamed, in part, for late election returns last month.

Busansky denied the charge, saying she had only asked Lee to review the Premier contract.

"It's called good management," Busansky said. "It's called getting the facts and understanding the contract."

Johnson angered commissioners Wednesday when he failed to show up to make his budget amendment request. He sent his chief deputy, Kathy Harris, who endured withering questioning about the last-minute appeal. Johnson leaves office Jan. 4.

Harris said election officials did not foresee the record voter turnout. She cited unexpected costs for labor, overtime, ballot boxes and privacy booths.

In his e-mail, Johnson also said couldn't have known the full cost of moving from touch-screen voting to optical scan machines. He said his office had been "extremely transparent" in its dealings with the county budget office.

County Administrator Pat Bean disagreed. Bean said when her budget director asked election officials for detailed financial data, Harris replied they would get the minimum information required by law.

"They were definitely not transparent because all we got were three numbers," Bean said.

Commissioner Rose Ferlita said Johnson's e-mail will not stop the audit of his office ordered by commissioners. Circuit Court Clerk Pat Frank's office will conduct the audit.

"We owe it to our taxpayers and to Mrs. Busansky to have a completed audit done prior to the time she officially takes office," Ferlita said.

The text of the letter follows:

The purpose of this letter is to formally withdraw the request for a budget amendment to the Supervisor of Elections FY 09 Budget.

As you know when we submitted the 2008 and 2009 budgets we could not predict the full impact of transitioning to a new voting system during a presidential election year. We trusted the County Budget director and staff when throughout the budget process we were assured they understood we were submitting our best estimate. We were told by your staff we could not add a contingency to our budget but would need to request a countywide fund budget amendment when we could define the actual expenses. As your staff is aware throughout the Election Cycle we used the required county process to adjust our 2008 and 2009 budgets several times to cover unforeseen election expenses. We were extremely transparent in all of our dealings with the budget office and with the Office of the Clerk regarding these budget adjustments during these difficult economic times.

Our goal in submitting the budget request was to finalize the election cycle before leaving office so that the incoming Supervisor could focus on the future. I feel it is best to withdraw the request so that Mrs. Busansky can review the budget and make her own decision about the amendment. Any delay in making the request is attributed to carrying out the 2008 yearend audit and finalizing all expenditures related to the election cycle. There is a very short period of time between Election Day and the end of the year.

Also, unbeknownst to me, without the knowledge of my general counsel or Sr. Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections, I found out today that Mrs. Busansky and the County Attorney have initiated an investigation into the current voting system provider. This matter needs to be completely transparent and reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners. I have not been made privy to these discussions but have complete confidence in the current provider's willingness and the current CIO and general counsel's ability to respond to any technical or legal questions raised during this surreptitious investigation.

Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the Board for the elections partnership we shared these past years. It was my pleasure to serve this community.

Respectfully submitted Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Buddy Johnson

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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