Buddy Johnson wants $2.3-million bump in elections budget to cover cost overruns

TAMPA — Add cost overruns to the troubles that plagued Hillsborough County's election last month, a vote already marred by counting delays, equipment failures and misplaced ballots.

Departing Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson is asking the County Commission for $2.3-million to cover "unanticipated expenses'' for the election, costs he blames largely on the transition to new voting machines.

This would be a one-third increase on the $6.7-million budget Johnson submitted in the summer to cover the election and day-to-day operations for the rest of the year. Commissioners approved that budget a little over two months ago, well after the August primary when new voting equipment was first used in a countywide election.

Read more about Buddy Johnson's budget request from Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times.

Bill Varian, Times staff writer