Auditor on target with election cost estimate

IOWA CITY - Tom Slockett is an auditor for a reason.

The longtime Johnson County auditor caught some flack last fall for estimating that a special election for county supervisor would cost $75,000. Some people said that was too high and suggested it was being used to discourage having an election.

(Slockett was part of a committee that chose to appoint someone, but a petition drive later forced a special election. Democrat Janelle Rettig was appointed and then won the election.)

Turns out Slockett was on the money. He's run the numbers, and today he gave me the cost of the election: $74,560.

That does not include the regular work hours of election staff, so the true cost is likely much higher, Slockett said.

See a breakdown of the costs below.

Special Election Cost