Section 123.033 of the Texas Election Code specifies the rental rate a county may charge for the use of county owned election equipment. These rates are set at $16 per lever machine, $5.00 per punch card device, and $5.00 for each unit of tabulating equipment. In addition to these rental charges, the county primary fund may be used to pay the actual expenses incurred by the county in transporting the equipment, preparing and programming equipment, testing equipment, and the cost of staffing the central counting station on election night. If the county's mainframe computer system is utilized as the central counting station ballot accumulator, the county may be reimbursed for its actual cost of providing this service. The cost to be reimbursed shall be calculated using the same cost accounting techniques used by the county in charging county departments for use of its data processing services. In the event the county does not have an established chargeback system for such purposes, the reimbursement shall be calculated based on $1.00 per 100 ballots tabulated. Supporting calculations for the amount charged for these services shall be submitted to the Secretary of State for review with the 1998 Final Cost Report. The primary fund may not be used to pay expenses related to the use of non-county owned equipment, including ballot boxes and voting booths, without the written permission of the Secretary of State.

Source Note:The provisions of this §81.133 adopted to be effective November 3, 1997, 22 TexReg 10502.