Voter-ID funds sought for poll workers

THE OFFICE of City Commissioners is asking the city for $1.5 million extra next fiscal year for raises for poll workers and for funding to educate voters about the voter-ID law set to take effect this fall.

The Office of the City Commissioners is currently budgeted at $8.9 million.

Since 1999, poll workers who work long hours are paid $75 to $100 a day, Stephanie Singer, chairwoman of thecommissioners, told City Council yesterday during a budget hearing. Singer proposed increasing pay to $152 based on a prevailing hourly wage of $10.88 for 14 hours, which would cost the city $1 million.

"I realize that's a large number, but our poll workers deserve it," Singer said. Survey and data analysis related to voter ID's would cost $100,000.

Councilman Bill Greenlee agreed that poll workers should be paid more but said the proposed state budget cuts mayaffect the city's social services and he could not say whether Council could support the proposal. Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services asked for an extra $930,000 to fund debt service for the Juvenile Justice Center; the Department of Public Health requested $1.2 million more to continue anti-tobacco and anti-obesity efforts related to the Get Healthy Philly campaign; and the Office of Supportive Housing requested an extra $1.2 million, which includes increasing staff by 10. n