Election bill soars by 349pc

The cost of electing the nine-member Bathurst Regional Council team in September has soared to more than $200,000.

That’s a staggering increase of 349 per cent over the last Local Government general elections in 2004, which cost $44,593.

The 2006 election, called following the amalgamation of the former Evans and Bathurst councils, cost $93,552.

A report to last night’s ordinary meeting of council by city treasurer Bob Roach sets out the fees and charges as laid down by the Electoral Commission of NSW to stage the election.

And in recognition of the costly exercise, the Electoral Commission informed council that councils already suffering financial stress have the option of paying off their election bill over two years.

Mr Roach states in his report that: “Surprisingly, the State Government only allows councils to increase their rates by a fixed amount (this year 3.2 per cent) but, without consultation, allows its own department an annual increase of 27 times the allowable amount Local Government is able to increase its revenue by.

“Clearly, this is cost-shifting from the State Government to Local Government, irrespective of what the State Government says, that places added pressure on the budgets of councils.”

Mr Roach details that council had been given an original cost estimate to stage the 2008 Local Government elections for the Bathurst Region of $171,000 and had already budgeted $175,000 in its Management Plan.

He said council now needs to vote the additional costs when the actual costs are known in October 2008.

Council has written to the Electoral Commissioner of NSW and Bathurst MP Gerard Martin expressing its concerns at the increases.

Mayor Paul Toole said yesterday the extra costs to stage the election were outrageous.

“It’s blatant cost shifting by the State Government,” he said.

“We’re told to toe the rate-pegging line and yet they can hit us with an increase of 349 per cent on this occasion.

“It defies belief that the cost of staging a Local Government election can increase by this much.”

Paying the price

The cost of recent Bathurst local government elections:

* 2004: $44,593

* 2006: $93,552

* 2008: $200,200