THE coming Local Government elections are expected to cost Lithgow Council more than $107,000.
But it would have cost the ratepayers almost $10,000 less than this drain on the budget if the Federal Government had not got in for its cut with a demand for almost $10,000 in goods and services tax (GST).
Residents across Greater Lithgow will go to the polls on Saturday September 8 to elect a nine member council for the next four years.
And electing candidates to represent our interests doesn’t come cheaply.
Finance Manager Carol Farnsworth has presented council with an estimate of the costs associated with the democratic process.
Mrs Farnsworth said the NSW Electoral Commission had calculated the cost of conducting the election would be $97,714.
But then came the 10 per cent GST component of $9771.40, taking the total to $107,485.
And it will be ratepayers footing the bill.
The cost has to be paid directly to the Electoral Commission.
The biggest single expense in the operation will be almost $44,000 for staff employed on election day and in the subsequent count which can extend over several days.
A further $11,117 will be expended in rental charges for the polling venues around the district.
Then the Electoral Commission charges councils an administration fee of $9516 based on a rate of 65 cents for each person on the electoral roll.
FOOTNOTE: Council has advised that for those residents qualifying as being away from the area on polling day the usual pre-poll voting facilities will be available at the Union Theatre in Lithgow for two weeks from August 27.