BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Officials in southern Indiana's Monroe County have approved a new election fund that will help cover the rising costs of holding elections.

The new election and registration fund was approved Wednesday by Monroe County's commissioners. County attorney Jeff Cockerill says the fund will help with future budgeting by looking at elections over a four-year cycle instead of year-to-year, as is the current approach.

The fund will be seeded every year, whether or not there is a major election.

Commissioner Julie Thomas says it makes sense to create the fund “rather than being surprised every four years with the cost of a presidential election.”

Cockerill says the county's election costs are projected to be more than $850,000 in 2016's presidential election year.