Concerned about the growing backlog of unpaid bills, some of which belong to its office, the Lawrence County Board of Elections Thursday afternoon agreed to send a letter to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, advising her of the situation.

“The county has failed to pay our expenses for the last election and ES&S has advised they will no longer provide services,” Board member Craig Allen said in the letter he drafted.

Allen’s letter also cited the recent concern about making payroll as another concern. Early last week, the auditor’s office sent a memo to other officeholders, advising the county was $75,000 short of what was needed to make the Feb. 20 payroll.

The shortfall was eliminated when the state forwarded the county’s sale tax profits later in the week.

Board of Elections Director Cathy Overbeck said ES&S, the company that provides elections equipment and services, recently sent a letter advising the county’s account is more than 120 days past due.

The county owes $89,762.47.

If that is not paid by March 15, ES&S will apply 18 percent monthly interest until it is paid and the account is on hold until then.

Overbeck said since she got the letter she has been told that bill will be paid. The vote to send the letter to Brunner was unanimous.

The board also considered ways to make their budget balance and agreed to talk to the Lawrence County Commission about what steps other offices are taking to bring their accounts into line with the county commission mandated 15 percent cut.

A detailed report on those discussions will be published in the March 1 edition of The Tribune.