A BLOWOUT of nearly $30,000 in the cost of running Wodonga’s council election has been blamed on the high number of candidates who contested the poll.
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Ratepayers will fork out $229,029.77 to the Victoran Electoral Commission for conducting the postal ballot last year.
The city council had originally budgeted $199,410.53 for the process.
A VEC spokesman said the large field of 24 election candidates had driven up expenses.
”The higher number of candidates resulted in higher costs for printing of ballot material and the conduct of the computer count,” he said.
“A variation clause is included in the VEC’s agreement with council, that notes actual costs will be passed on.
“The VEC operates on a minimal cost recovery model.”
The field in last year’s election was the second highest in Wodonga’s history, behind 25 in 1997 and nearly double the 13 who ran in the 2012 contest.
Wodonga councillor Libby Hall, who moved the motion at this week’s council meeting to pay the $229,000, said it was the price of democracy.
“Even though it’s on the high side...it’s a much warranted cost,” Cr Hall said.
