All NSW councils have been given the option of running their election this year or handing control over to the NSW Electoral Commission, with both options coming at a cost.

General manager David Sherley yesterday said Bathurst had joined most other councils in engaging the NSWEC.

But Bathurst is still not happy with the cost, which jumped dramatically in 2008 under a user-pays policy of the previous Labor Government.

Four years ago Bathurst paid $177,500 to the electoral commission to run the council election, compared with just $93,552 for a by-election in 2006 and $44,593 in 2004.

“The problem is, most councils just aren’t geared up to run elections themselves,” Mr Sherley said.

“So council has resolved to have the September elections run by the electoral commission, and we expect it to cost around the same as 2008, plus CPI increases.”

As mayor in 2008, Paul Toole described the cost of council elections as “outrageous” and slammed the cost-shifting tactics of the previous Labor Government.

With the shoe on the other foot now, though, Mr Toole was yesterday satisfied that it was money worth spending.

He said it was the Coalition Government that introduced legislation last year giving councils the option of running their own elections, though he admitted he supported bringing in the NSWEC.

“In terms of probity and issues of independence, I support having the electoral commission run the election,” he said.

“Yes, I was very critical [four years ago] because I saw the cost of elections was going up and up over the years without any explanation but it’s now up to individual councils to decide how they want to run their election.”

A report to council by Mr Sherley outlined just how difficult it would be for council to run its own election.

Mr Sherley told councillors that to be prepare properly for the election council would have to appoint an independent returning officer and substitute returning officer; appoint polling places; develop training packages, procedures, policies and stationery, including stationery for the vision-impaired; handle all pre-poll, institutional, postal and election day polling; handle all legal appeals; provide help desk information for candidates and the public; and report to the local government minister on the cost and conduct of the election.