Laserfiche WebLink
may be obtained, and authorize the chairman to execute the proposed Certification or one <br />substantially similar thereto pursuant to Section 101.293, Florida Statutes (2001). <br />Discussion: <br />Attached is a proposed Certification which, pursuant to Section 101.293, Florida <br />Statutes (2001), is required if a majority of the Board of County Commissioners finds that <br />there is but a single source from which suitable voting equipment may be obtained. As <br />proposed in the Certification, the situation and conditions requiring an exception to the <br />competitive sealed bidding and competitive sealed proposal requirements of Section <br />101.293, Florida Statutes (2001), include the following: <br />1. The Indian River County Supervisor of Elections ("Supervisor") investigated <br />and evaluated electronic voting systems that could serve the particular needs of Indian <br />River County in the aftermath of the 2000 Presidential Election. <br />2. Following public presentations by five touch -screen vendors, the Supervisor <br />determined that there is but a single source from which suitable voting equipment can be <br />obtained. <br />3. The single source, to wit: Sequoia Voting Systems, Inc., manufactures the <br />AVC Edge Electronic Voting System, which, according to the Supervisor, is the only <br />electronic voting system certified by the State of Florida that would satisfy the voting needs <br />of Indian River County. <br />TO: Members of the Board <br />of County Commissioners <br />THROUGH: Joseph A. Baird <br />Assistant County Administrator <br />FROM: Jason E. Brown <br />Budget Manager <br />DATE: October 19, 2001 <br />SUBJECT: Sequoia Voting Machines Purchase - <br />Funding Alternatives <br />Background <br />As a result of the 2000 General Election, the State Legislature has created additional requirements for <br />voting equipment in all Florida counties. In accordance with these new requirements, the Supervisor of <br />Elections has selected a vendor for new touch screen voting equipment. On September 18, 2001, the <br />Board of Commissioners approved the selection of Sequoia Voting Systems and provided authorization <br />for negotiations with said vendor. These negotiations have resulted in an all inclusive total cost of <br />$1,999,950 for Indian River County. <br />Along with the new requirements for voting equipment throughout the State, the legislature approved a <br />Voting Systems Assistance funding package. This funding assistance package, however, falls far short <br />of providing all the funding necessary to implement the new requirements resulting in another unfunded <br />mandate from the State. Indian River County has received an allocation of $142,500 for voting system <br />assistance. This places the cost of the unfunded mandate at $1,857,450 for the County. <br />In short, this additional financial burden could not come at a worse time. The attacks on September 11 <br />have sent an already struggling economy into certain recession. What is uncertain now is just how <br />severe—and how long—this recession will be. <br />OCTOBER 23,2001 <br />B1( d <br />-25- <br />