The list of those complaining about the cost of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council elections is increasing the closer we get to the July 29 mayoral election.
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Let me put their minds at rest by explaining how good it is for the Camden Haven/Hastings economy.
The cost of the upcoming election will be in the order of $400,000.
The cost to each of the 37,300 ratepayer is $10, about the same as a Devonshire Tea or a coffee with a muffin, not $2500 as one complaint puts it.
But you won’t hear any complaints from the small business sector because the wonderful thing is that most of the money spent on the election, including such essentials as the wages of those who run the polling booths and count the votes, and the printing of ballot papers etc. stays in the local economy.
It is a very helpful boost to local small business.
But a much larger boost to small business happens on the day of the elections because everyone who has to vote comes into town and bring their families.
The increase in business on polling day is far higher than that that comes from the annual Tastings on Hastings.
All of the above means that council elections, whether for the full council, or just for the mayor or a single councillor are great for the local economy and voters can go into the booth on Saturday 29 July, with this in mind and simply vote for the candidate that they believe will the best mayor.
Mike Dibbs
Port Macquarie