COUNCILS may be forced to fork out more for local government elections, with a draft report shifting much of the cost on to ratepayers.
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Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) mayor Andrew Hope was angry and dismayed at the release of the draft recommendations from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which would mean a 62 per cent cost increase.
"IPART's proposal is particularly discriminatory against small rural councils like LPSC as it is suggesting we pay an average of $14.37 per elector, compared to $9.54 for large metropolitan councils, for the democratic right to vote," Cr Hope said.
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Cr Hope is calling on Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen to deliver to state government the message that local governments cannot absorb the large increase without impacting other areas of service delivery to ratepayers.
"At the last election in 2016, there were 5708 people eligible to vote in the shire. This means that at the upcoming 2020 election, LPSC ratepayers will be slugged over $82,000 for this basic right," he said.
"We have to remember that immediately after the state election the NSW Government announced a 23.8% increase in the Emergency Services Levy that will cost LPSC ratepayers around $84,000 more than last year.
"Together, these proposed imposts will cost LPSC ratepayers an extra $166,000 a year."
Tamworth mayor Col Murray is yet to see the report, but was surprised by the increase, "particularly given the way IPART treats special rate variations" such as the one put forward by Tamworth Regional Council earlier this year.
"62 per cent is a helluva dump," he said.
Cr Murray said council budgeted roughly $280,000 for elections. Based off that figure, council is looking at an increase of more than $170,000.
"When this sort of government cost shifting happens, you've just got to find the money," Cr Murray said.
"We spend a lot of time plucking money out of nowhere. But once you've ironed out all efficient, innovations and technology opportunities, the only place it can come from is delivery of services."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said he was unable to comment as he had yet to see the report.
