Section 3515.072 - Biennial adjustment of charges for recounts(A) In January of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state, in accordance with this division and division (B) of this section, shall adjust each amount specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The adjustment shall be based on the yearly average of the previous two years of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or its successive equivalent, as determined by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or its successor in responsibility, for all items, Series A. Using the 2005 yearly average as the base year, the secretary of state shall compare the most current average consumer price index with that determined in the preceding odd-numbered year, and shall determine the percentage increase or decrease. The percentage increase or decrease shall be multiplied by each actual dollar figure specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code as determined in the previous odd-numbered year, and the product shall be added to or subtracted from its corresponding actual dollar figure, as necessary, for that previous odd-numbered year. If the resulting amount is less than five dollars, the secretary of state shall retain a record of the resulting amount and the manner in which it was calculated, but shall not make an adjustment unless the resulting amount, when added to the resulting amount calculated in each prior odd-numbered year since the last adjustment was made, equals or exceeds five dollars.
(B)(1) The secretary of state shall calculate the adjustment under division (A) of this section and shall report the calculations and necessary materials to the auditor of state, on or before the thirty-first day of January of each odd-numbered year. The secretary of state shall base the adjustment on the most current consumer price index that is described in division (A) of this section and that is in effect as of the first day of January of each odd-numbered year.(2) The calculations made by the secretary of state under divisions (A) and (B)(1) of this section shall be certified by the auditor of state on or before the fifteenth day of February of each odd-numbered year.(3) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prepare a report setting forth the amount required to be deposited with a board of elections at the time a recount application is filed for each precinct to be recounted under section 3515.03 of the Revised Code and the minimum and maximum per precinct charge for a recount under section 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The report and all documents relating to the calculations contained in the report are public records. The report shall contain an indication of the period in which the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges apply, a summary of how the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges were calculated, and a statement that the report and all related documents are available for inspection and copying at the office of the secretary of state.(4) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall transmit the report to the general assembly and shall send the report by electronic mail or other form of electronic communication to the board of elections of each county.Effective Date: 5/2/2006 .