Precinct election workers and precinct election chairpersons in Jasper County are getting a small pay raise. Jasper County Auditor Jenna Jennings recommended a $3.00 per hour increase to the County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday.

“Those people have 16 hour days most generally. Training is mandated now before each election. There are increased responsibilities while they are there that day. We feel it’s time to increase the pay. It also might encourage more people to come out and help us.”

Jennings says the last pay adjustment in 2019 was a $2.00 increase, raising precinct election workers to $12.00 an hour and precinct election chairpersons to $12.50. The new hourly wages will be $15.00 for workers and $15.50 for chairpersons. Jasper County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brandon Talsma says the new hourly rates will roughly cost the county an additional $6,100 per election.